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2023 05 08

Table of Contents:

GS Paper 1:

  1. Cyclones: How are cyclones formed and named?

GS Paper 3:

  1. Agricultural exports-imports

Facts for Prelims (FFPs):

  1. PM CARES Fund

Note : Remaining articles will be published tomorrow.

Cyclones: How are cyclones formed and named?

GS Paper 1

Syllabus: Important Geophysical Phenomena such as cyclones etc.

Source: IE

Context: According to the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), a cyclonic/low-pressure area is developing in the Bay of Bengal and may intensify into a cyclonic storm.

What this weather system be called? Cyclone Mocha (pronounced ‘Mokha’) –  a name suggested by Yemen after the Red Sea port city, which is known to have introduced coffee to the world over 500 years ago.
What is a cyclone and how are they formed?
Meaning A cyclone is a low-pressure system that forms over warm waters.
Mechanism of formation A high temperature anywhere means the existence of low-pressure air, and a low temperature means high-pressure wind.

As air warms over hotter regions it ascends, leading to low pressure at the surface it is covering.

In a depression or low-pressure situation, the air is rising and blows in an anticlockwise direction (in the northern hemisphere) around the low.

This is because of the Coriolis effect, a result of the earth’s rotation on its axis.
Favourable conditions Warm seas present ripe conditions for the development and strengthening of cyclones and fuel these systems over the water.
Effects As warm air rises and cools, water vapour condenses to form clouds and this can lead to rains.
Most vulnerable region Weather systems formed over the Bay of Bengal in the peak of summer in May are among the strongest in the North Indian Ocean region.
Threats Can lead to individual hazards such as storm surge, flooding, extreme winds, tornadoes and lighting → loss of life and material damage.

How are cyclones named?

  • They are named by the regional specialised meteorological centres (RSMCs) and Tropical Cyclone Warning Centres (TCWCs).
  • There are six RSMCs in the world and five
  • As an RSMC, the IMD names the cyclones developing over the north Indian Ocean, including the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea.
  • The IMD is also mandated to issue advisories to 12 other countries in the region on the development of cyclones and storms.

WMO/ESCAP (World Meteorological Organisation/United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific):

  • In 2000, the group (comprising Bangladesh, India, the Maldives, Myanmar, Oman, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Thailand), decided to start naming cyclones in the region.
  • After each country sent in suggestions, the WMO/ESCAP Panel on Tropical Cyclones (PTC) finalised the list.

Insta Links:

What is a ‘bomb cyclone’?

May 8, 2023 /08 May 2023, 8 May CA, cyclones, GS 1, Mocha/Mokha, Today's Article, Today’s articles

Agricultural exports-imports

GS Paper 3

Syllabus: Indian economy, agriculture and related issues

Source: IE

Context: Both agricultural exports from and imports into India have scaled new highs in the fiscal year that ended March 31, 2023.

Provisional data of Department of Commerce on agri imports-exports:

  • Agricultural trade surplus (Exports – Imports): It has marginally dipped from $17.82 billion to $17.46 billion.
    • The surplus narrows further if one adds the import of fertilizers, which have risen from $14.17 billion in 2021-22 to $17.21 billion in 2022-23.

The drivers – global prices:

  • The UN FAO’s Food Price Index (FPI) – a weighted average of world prices of a basket of food commodities over a base period value (2014-16 = 100) – remains high since 2020-21.
  • It made India’s agri-commodities more globally price competitive.

Major export-import contributors:

Export profile:

  • Basmati exports are mainly to the Persian Gulf countries, while non-basmati shipments are more diversified, spreading across –
    • Asia (Bangladesh, China, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Vietnam, UAE and Iraq) and
    • Africa (from Senegal, Ivory Coast and Benin to Somalia and Madagascar).
    • It’s non-basmati that has made India the biggest rice exporter, ahead of Thailand.
  • In sugar exports, the country has emerged as the world’s No. 2 exporter after Brazil.
    • Indian mills have built markets for both raw sugar (among refineries in Bangladesh, Indonesia, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia and Iraq) and
    • Regular plantation whites (in African countries, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka and China).
  • Spices exports have stagnated since 2020-21.
  • The exports of raw cotton, guar-gum (a thickening agent used in extraction of shale oil and gas) and oil meals, have declined.

Imports profile:

  • Imports meet roughly 60% of India’s vegetable oil requirements, 10% of pulses.
  • Imports of spices, cashew and cotton – commodities where India has traditionally been a net exporter – have shown a rising trend.

Concerns:

  • Unfavourable regulatory regime:
    • Cultivation of GM Bt cotton and high global prices had enabled India to become the world’s top producer (ahead of China) and No. 2 exporter (after the US) of natural fibre.
    • But, as the government is not permitting new gene technologies, the country has turned from a net exporter to an importer of cotton.
  • Domestic crop shortages: Specially in cotton, soyabean, guar-gum and oil meal.
  • Spice imports going up are a reflection of reduced price competitiveness (vis-à-vis Vietnam in pepper and Guatemala in pepper).
  • Export curbs: The government banned wheat exports, broken rice exports and slapped a 20% duty on all non-parboiled non-basmati shipments.

Government steps to promote agricultural exports:

  • Agriculture Export Policy (2018): It aims to harness export potential of Indian agriculture to make India a global power in agriculture and raise farmers’ income.
  • ‘District as Export Hub’ Initiative of the Department of Commerce would be utilised to achieve the objectives of Agriculture Export Policy.
  • Transport and Marketing Assistance for Specified Agriculture Products – a Central Sector Scheme to mitigate the freight disadvantage for the export of agriculture products.
  • Trade Infrastructure for Export Scheme (TIES)
  • Market Access Initiatives (MAI) Scheme
  • The Export Promotion Schemes of APEDA

Risks ahead:

  • International prices: The latest FPI reading showing declining trends.
  • Domestic food inflation, more curbs on exports and a further liberalisation of imports if the ensuing southwest monsoon season delivers subnormal rainfall.
Related news: Revision in India’s Import-Export tally

Source: TH 

Context: India’s overall export-import figures (merchandise) for last year have been scaled down by around $3 billion dollars each.

| | | | |
|---|---|---|---|
|Earlier data|Revised data|Revision is dominated by|
|Exports|Expected to have grown 6% in 2022-23 to hit $447.46 billion|$444.4 billion, reflecting a 5.3% rise from 2021-22|Petroleum exports and imports after the Russia-Ukraine conflict|
|Imports|$714.24 billion|$711.85 billion, indicating a growth of 16.1%|
|Trade deficit|Expected to rise 40%|Has risen 40.8% to $267.45 bn|

Concerns: Trade deficit raises uncertainty on the outlook for India’s current account deficit and thereby rupee.

Insta Links:

Importance of Agri exports

May 8, 2023 /08 May 2023, 8 May CA, Agricultural exports-imports, GS 3, Today's Article, Today’s article

PM CARES Fund

Facts for Prelims (FFPs)

Source: IE

Context: The PM’s Citizen Assistance and Relief in Emergency Situations Fund (PM CARES Fund) received Rs 535.44 crore as foreign donations during the last three years.

About PM CARES Fund:
Launched It was created on 27 March 2020, following the COVID-19 pandemic, for the purpose of redressing the pandemic in India.
Nature It is a private fund used at the discretion of the PM and the Fund’s trustees, and does not form a part of the Government of India’s accounts.
Chairman The PM of India is the ex-officio chairman of the fund
Trustees Ex-officio trustees include the Minister of Defence; the Minister of Home Affairs and the Minister of Finance.

The PM has nominated three trustees – Justice K T Thomas (retd), Kariya Munda and Ratan N Tata – to the Board.
Benefits Donations to PM CARES Fund would qualify –

For 100% exemption under the Income Tax Act, 1961.

To be counted as Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) expenditure under the Companies Act, 2013.

It has also got exemption under the FCRA and a separate account for receiving foreign donations has been opened.

May 8, 2023 /08 May 2023, PM CARES, Today's Article

National Programme for Prevention & Control of Non-Communicable Diseases (NP-NCD)

Facts for Prelims (FFP)

Source: TH

Context: The National Programme for Prevention and Control of Cancer, Diabetes, Cardiovascular Diseases and Stroke (NPCDCS) in India has been renamed the National Programme for Prevention & Control of Non-Communicable Diseases (NP-NCD) due to the addition of new diseases and health initiatives.

  • It has been renamed to subsume all types of NCDs.
  • Also, Comprehensive Primary Healthcare Non-Communicable Disease (CPHC NCD IT) system has been renamed as the National NCD Portal 

What is non-communicable disease?

Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are a group of chronic medical conditions that are not caused by infectious agents and cannot be transmitted from one person to another but are caused by a combination of genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors.

  • g., cardiovascular diseases, cancer, diabetes, chronic respiratory diseases, and mental disorders.

About NPCDCS/NP-NCD:
Aspect Details
Aim NPCDCS was launched in 2010 with a focus on strengthening infrastructure, human resource development, health promotion, early diagnosis, management and referral of common non-communicable diseases (NCDs) under the National Health Mission
Management NCD Cells are being established at the National, State and District levels for programme management.

NCD Clinics are also being set up at District and Community Health Centres (CHC) levels to provide services for early diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up for common NCDs.
Other measures to control NCD WHO’s Global action plan for the Prevention and Control of NCDs 2020 to 2030; Affordable Medicines and Reliable Implants for Treatment (AMRIT) Deendayal outlet, Jan Aushadhi stores

May 9, 2023 /08 May 2023, Today's Article