#indian rice exporters federation

[irefindia]

WHO OVERSEES THE INDIAN RICE EXPORTERS FEDERATION?

The Indian Rice Exporters Federation (IREF) is a pivotal organization in India’s agricultural export landscape, particularly in the rice sector. It plays a crucial role in representing the interests of rice exporters, ensuring quality standards, and promoting Indian rice globally. But who oversees this important body, and how is it structured to carry out its functions effectively? This article delves into the governance and leadership of the IREF, highlighting the key individuals and structures that guide its operations.

Organizational Structure of the IREF

The Indian Rice Exporters Federation is governed by a structured hierarchy, typically comprising an Executive Committee, various Sub-Committees, and a Secretariat. This structure ensures that the federation can effectively manage its diverse activities, ranging from policy advocacy to quality control and international marketing.

1. Executive Committee

The Executive Committee is the apex decision-making body of the IREF. It is composed of senior members, often elected from among the federation’s member exporters. The committee is responsible for setting the strategic direction of the federation, making key policy decisions, and overseeing the overall functioning of the organization. The Executive Committee typically includes the following positions:

President: The President is the chief executive officer of the federation, responsible for leading the organization and representing it at various national and international forums. The President plays a crucial role in shaping the policies and initiatives of the IREF.

Vice Presidents: The Vice Presidents assist the President in their duties and may oversee specific areas such as quality standards, export development, or member services. They often chair various sub-committees within the federation.

Treasurer: The Treasurer manages the financial affairs of the federation, ensuring transparency and accountability in the use of funds.

Secretary: The Secretary is responsible for administrative functions, including coordinating meetings, maintaining records, and communicating with members.

2. Sub-Committees

The IREF’s activities are supported by various sub-committees that focus on specific aspects of the rice export industry. These sub-committees are often chaired by members of the Executive Committee or other senior members. Key sub-committees may include:

Quality Standards Committee: This committee is tasked with setting and monitoring quality standards for rice exports, ensuring compliance with international regulations.

Marketing and Promotion Committee: This group focuses on strategies for promoting Indian rice in global markets, including participation in trade fairs and marketing campaigns.

Policy and Advocacy Committee: This committee liaises with government bodies to advocate for favorable policies and regulations for rice exporters.

3. Secretariat

The Secretariat is the operational arm of the IREF, responsible for executing the policies and decisions made by the Executive Committee and sub-committees. It consists of professional staff who handle day-to-day operations, member services, and administrative tasks.

Key Individuals and Their Roles

The leadership of the IREF often includes prominent figures from the rice export industry, bringing valuable experience and insight into the federation’s operations. Key individuals typically include:

President: The current President of the IREF, elected by the member exporters, serves as the public face of the organization. The President’s background usually includes significant experience in the rice export business, providing strategic leadership and direction.

Vice Presidents and Treasurer: These roles are typically filled by experienced professionals from the rice export sector, who bring expertise in specific areas such as finance, marketing, or regulatory compliance.

Secretary: The Secretary manages the administrative functions of the federation, ensuring smooth communication and coordination among members and committees.

Conclusion

The Indian Rice Exporters Federation is overseen by a well-defined leadership and organizational structure, comprising the Executive Committee, sub-committees, and a dedicated Secretariat. The federation’s governance is characterized by a collaborative approach, with elected members from the rice export industry guiding its activities. This structure ensures that the IREF can effectively represent and support India’s rice exporters, maintaining high standards and promoting Indian rice on the global stage. The federation’s leadership, drawn from experienced industry professionals, plays a pivotal role in steering the organization towards its goals and ensuring its continued relevance in a dynamic global market.

[wordexpress]

Milk Gives Government A Headache As Prices Soar Ahead of 2024 Polls

The average retail price of milk in India has increased by 12% from a year ago to 57.15 rupees ($0.6962) a liter.

Milk is ubiquitous in India - from the morning glassful that most middle class school kids glug to its use in Hindu religious rituals. Now it could become a headache for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government as prices soar.

The average retail price of milk in India has increased by 12% from a year ago to 57.15 rupees ($0.6962) a liter. A mix of factors is at play - a jump in the cost of cereals has made cattle feed more expensive coupled with lower dairy yields as cows were inadequately fed due to the pandemic rupturing demand at the time.

In turn, milk - which has the second-largest weight in India's food basket - pushes up overall inflation as well. India's headline inflation for March fell below the central bank's target of 6% as high interest rates cooled overall demand, according to data released Wednesday. However, milk inflation trended higher than the overall figure at 9.31%.

High prices of milk and related products - emotive items that most poor families aspire to and wealthier people see as indicators of status - have the potential of becoming a political risk for Modi's government ahead of national elections next summer.

"This trend of higher milk prices is problematic, since it is a highly price elastic product and has a direct impact on consumption," said R.S. Sodhi, president of the Indian Dairy Association.

For now, the demand-supply mismatch has helped a rally among dairy stocks in India as analysts expect this situation can help organized players expand their share of overall market in India.

However, Sodhi said the balance sheet of dairy companies may eventually come under stress as the cost of procurement is rising. One factor is the increase in the prices of cereals and rice bran, ingredients used in animal feed, which is discouraging farmers from feeding their cattle sufficiently and is reflecting in milk prices that have risen 12%-15% during winter months, he said.

Unseasonal rain and heat waves have also contributed to this jump in feed prices. Cereal inflation came in at 15.27% for March 2023.

But trouble was brewing even before prices of cattle feed began to rise.

When the coronavirus pandemic hit and India introduced one of the world's strictest lockdowns, demand for milk and milk products dipped as many restaurants and sweet shops were forced to shut down either temporarily or permanently.

India accounts for almost a quarter of the world's milk supplies, but those massive volumes are produced in large part by tens of millions of small farmers who maintain modest numbers of animals. The drop in demand meant they were unable to feed their livestock well.

"A cow has to be fed irrespective of whatever quantity of milk it is giving and this is a pressure point for the producer," said Jayen Mehta, who heads India's largest dairy cooperative, Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation, which owns the iconic Amul brand.

And while the South Asian nation consumes the bulk of the milk it produces, exports have also been rising, especially once the global virus disruption eased and demand for milk products picked up across the the world. India exported dairy products worth about $391.59 million in the 2021-22 fiscal year compared to $321.96 million in the year before that.

"In terms of the outlook for this year, we believe that milk prices will continue to increase, since there is a shortage of milk heading into the peak demand season," Madhavi Arora, economist at Emkay Global wrote in a report this month.

Demand for ice cream and yogurt jumps as summer temperatures soar. That's followed by the season of Hindu festivals, which starts around September - milk-based sweets are a holiday staple - and carries on for the next few months.

While Modi revamped a food program to make monthly rice and wheat rations free for about 800 million Indians, higher prices of other kitchen staples add to the pressure on his government to do more to help citizens cope with the rising costs of living. That's crucial as he prepares to seek reelection next year in a country that has by far the largest number of poor people worldwide.

"It's an issue that affects ordinary people rightly," said Neerja Chowdhury, a New Delhi-based political columnist. "But whether it becomes a poll issue depends on the opposition, how effectively they can use it and make it into a right issue that make people vote in a particular way."

Analysts expect Modi to win as the opposition remains in disarray. But the government may still have to do some heavy-lifting to beat back price pressures, given the Reserve Bank of India has already paused monetary tightening amid mounting growth risks.

While economists expect overall inflation to ease going ahead, things are not looking up for this staple. India's central bank last week said that prices of milk may continue to be firm going into the summer season due to tight demand-supply balance and fodder cost pressures.

Amul's Mehta describes it as walking a tight rope. On one hand, it is about limiting the impact of inflation on consumers for an essential item, while simultaneously ensuring producers get a fair price to encourage them to continue producing milk, he said.

For now, even middle class families are tweaking their milk consumption. Ruchika Thakur, a lawyer and a parent to a five-year-old, says cutting down on milk purchases is not an option so she's started buying cheaper options to tackle the surge in cost.

"I think twice before making that extra cup of coffee," she said, adding that there is no room for buying more, especially for a family of eight who consume three liters of milk each day.

[business2businesstradez]

B2B Agriculture Business Optimization

Farm2Fam goals to create awareness concerning the capacity of the human body to heal itself with natural diet. Their intention to make use of expertise together with traditional Indian agricultural strategies to develop area of interest nutritional merchandise. Using know-how, they intend to create an efficient and efficient platform for agri-lands that may get rid of the middlemen who inflate the prices. The agriculture-expertise segment has recorded growing interest from strategic players and buyers, especially influence buyers. Players within the house search to address gaps in India’s current agricultural processes, as well as provide honest economic incentives to farmers and different members of the ecosystem.

Built on high-tech angular expertise, agritech company Khetigaadi portal is as protected as an online banking portal. To make the platform user pleasant for the farmers, Khetigaadi has made it out there as an App in 10 languages and the company's web site could be considered in three different languages, English, Hindi and Marathi. The idea is techno-savvy and compatible with iOS as well as Android. However, over 40% of these startup founders still discover it tough to rise funds and achieve investor confidence. Agritech based options take time to scale and require a mindset change from VCs. This is particularly true in B2B segments where payment cycles are long.

The most important ones embrace pre-cleaning, husk removing, sprucing and so on. Depending upon the processing capability of such a agro business unit, it is important to resolve the world of agricultural land in acres required for numerous operations. In addition, the land should have elevation from the ground, as low-lying areas usually are not suitable for processing. Another important issue is that the area B2B Agriculture you select must be well-related to the road and will have proper drainage system. The international locations like India, where agriculture is the primary occupation, the advantages of setting up a rice mill may be easily understood. Rice is among the prime staple foods in India and big portions of various varieties are exported to completely different nations.

As said above, FDI in multi-brand retail is proscribed by numerous features. First of all, the particular State/UT has allowed the FDI in multi-model retail trading. Secondly, solely fifty one% FDI is allowed that too only after the approval of the federal government.

Put your inventory administration worries to rest and belief India’s leading B2B marketplace for offering you with the very best quality provides at inexpensive prices. Businesses can optimize their margins by stocking provides at inexpensive charges with the help of annual rate contracts. ARCs may help businesses in de-risking value fluctuation challenges. Choose from an intensive range of LED lighting options from manufacturers similar to Bajaj, Wipro, Syska, Havells and many extra on our online market. Get better lumination in your houses, workplaces and work areas by opting for quality LED lights and lamps. The startup has raised a total funding of $200K from names like Artesian VC, Zeroth.AL, Mistletoe and Mind Fund amongst others.

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Despite these measures there is a lot to do on the insurance policies related to monetary, data and incubation of these startups. As per the report, India ought to work on its data sharing policies and fashions and introduce catalytic/ micro funds within the vary of $2-$14 million to hurry up innovation. Drone know-how, IoT sensors, image sensing and remote crop monitoring are helping these businesses scale.

Updating my business on tradeindia has confirmed a wonderful choice of mine, we have increased our merchandise supply, business presence and clientele available in the market. Indian market is dominated with many small retailers and business. If foreign investment in multi-brand retail is to be permitted, then the enterprise of these small store house owners shall be in peril. Consumers might be spoilt with choices and due to excessive competitions, prices will go down, thus these multi-model retail institution shall be ready attract customers at a big scale. Shakedeal believes in providing the most effective service and shopping expertise to its prospects.

All prime brands underneath a single roof, high quality assured products and value for money provides make it the largest B2B market amongst all B2B suppliers. Avail finest prices when you store online at India’s main B2B E-commerce Portal. Also, get the providers of our best dealer and distributor network in prime cities corresponding to Delhi NCR, Mumbai, Chennai, Bengaluru, Kolkata, Chennai, Pune, Jaipur, Hyderabad and Ahmedabad. Waycool Logo | Agriculture Startups in IndiaWaycool is India’s quickest growing food distribution firm that has a community for 35,000 farmers throughout greens, fruits, rice, pulses and different meals merchandise. It was established in July 2015 with the aim of fixing the disorganized perishable provide chain.

[newstfionline]

Headlines

Trump Threatens to Send Federal Law Enforcement Forces to More Cities (NYT) President Trump plans to deploy federal law enforcement to Chicago and threatened on Monday to send agents to other major cities—all controlled by Democrats. Governors and other officials reacted angrily to the president’s move, calling it an election-year ploy as they squared off over crime, civil liberties and local control that has spread from Portland, Ore., across the country. With camouflage-clad agents already sweeping through the streets of Portland, more units were poised to head to Chicago, and Mr. Trump suggested that he would follow suit in New York, Philadelphia, Detroit and other urban centers. Governors and other officials compared his actions to authoritarianism and vowed to pursue legislation or lawsuits to stop him. “I’m going to do something—that, I can tell you,” Mr. Trump told reporters in the Oval Office. “Because we’re not going to let New York and Chicago and Philadelphia and Detroit and Baltimore and all of these—Oakland is a mess. We’re not going to let this happen in our country. All run by liberal Democrats.”

Chicago restaurateur joins mission to feed America’s hungry (AP) Before coronavirus arrived, Manish Mallick’s trips to this city’s South Side had been limited to attending graduate classes at the University of Chicago. Now Mallick is a South Side regular—and a popular one. He regularly arrives bearing food for the hungry from his Indian restaurant several miles to the north, in the city’s downtown. “Thank you, sugar, for the meals. They’re so delicious!” one woman recently shouted to Mallick outside a South Side YWCA. “God bless you!” she added, raising her arms for emphasis. Mallick has personally delivered thousands of meals cooked and packed by his staff—among them, chickpea curry and tandoori chicken with roasted cottage cheese, sweet corn, peas and rice. Volunteers from neighborhood organizations then take them to children, retirees and the multitudes who’ve been laid off or sick during the pandemic. “We all need to help each other,” Mallick says. “That’s the best way to get through a crisis.”

American tourists are banned from the Bahamas as coronavirus cases spike (Washington Post) One of the few countries to welcome U.S. tourists has changed its mind, citing soaring infection numbers. The Bahamas will close its borders to most visitors from the United States starting Wednesday, Prime Minister Hubert Minnis said Sunday. While commercial flights from Canada, Britain and the European Union will still be allowed to land, all visitors must show proof that they tested negative for the coronavirus at an accredited lab in the past 10 days. Other international flights will be banned.

More and more countries are making masks mandatory (Washington Post) As countries around the world reopen their economies amid ongoing novel coronavirus outbreaks, governments are increasingly embracing what remains in some places a divisive public health measure: mandatory masks. In France, face coverings will be required in all public enclosed spaces as of Monday. England is set to begin enforcing new rules that make masks mandatory inside supermarkets and other shops, effective Friday. In the U.S., there is no national mask requirement. But at the state level, a growing number of mask requirements have come into force.

EU agrees on $2.1 trillion deal after marathon summit (AP) After four days and nights of wrangling, exhausted European Union leaders finally clinched a deal on an unprecedented 1.8 trillion-euro ($2.1 trillion) budget and coronavirus recovery fund early Tuesday, after one of their longest summits ever. The 27 leaders grudgingly committed to a costly, massive aid package for those hit hardest by COVID-19, which has already killed 135,000 people within the bloc alone. “Extraordinary events, and this is the pandemic that has reached us all, also require extraordinary new methods,” German Chancellor Angela Merkel said. To confront the biggest recession in its history, the EU will establish a 750 billion-euro coronavirus fund, partly based on common borrowing, to be sent as loans and grants to the hardest-hit countries. That is in addition to the agreement on the seven-year, 1 trillion-euro EU budget that leaders had been haggling over for months even before the pandemic. “The consequences will be historic,” French President Emmanuel Macron said. “We have created a possibility of taking up loans together, of setting up a recovery fund in the spirit of solidarity,” a sense of sharing debt that would have been unthinkable not so long ago.

Breached levees trap thousands as flooding in China worsens (AP) Breached levees have trapped more than 10,000 people in an eastern Chinese town as flooding worsens across much of the country, local authorities said Tuesday. High waters overcame flood defenses protecting Guzhen, a town in Anhui province, on Sunday, the provincial government said on its official microblog. Flood waters rose as high as 3 meters (10 feet), the official Xinhua News Agency quoted Wang Qingjun, Guzhen’s Communist Party secretary, as saying. About 1,500 firefighters were rushed to carry out rescues in the province, where weeks of heavy rains have disrupted the lives of more than 3 million people, Xinhua said.

Britain suspends extradition treaty with Hong Kong (NYT) Britain on Monday suspended its extradition treaty with Hong Kong amid worries about a new national security law that Beijing imposed on the former British colony. The suspension comes as London and Beijing find themselves at increasing odds over a variety of issues, including Britain’s move to bar Chinese tech giant Huawei from its 5G wireless networks and growing public anger in Britain over the treatment of the Uighur minority in Xinjiang, an autonomous territory in China.

Japan helps 87 companies to ‘exit China’ after pandemic exposed overreliance (Washington Post) Japan is paying 87 companies to shift production back home or into Southeast Asia after the novel coronavirus pandemic disrupted supply chains and exposed an overreliance on Chinese manufacturing. Alarm bells started ringing in Japanese boardrooms as soon as the virus emerged in the Chinese city of Wuhan, a major hub of the auto parts industry. Japanese automaker Nissan was forced to temporarily halt production at a plant in Japan in February over shortages of parts from China, while a Japanese consumer goods company, Iris Ohyama, found itself unable to meet surging local demand for masks after supplies to its factory in China were disrupted and export controls out of China were tightened. In March, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said the government wanted to bring production back home and diversify into Southeast Asia. The following month, the government set aside $2.2 billion in its coronavirus economic recovery package to subsidize that process. China is Japan’s largest trading partner, but Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) has been trying for several years to reduce the country’s dependence on its giant neighbor. The 2008 global financial crisis, the 2011 northeastern Japan earthquake and the coronavirus pandemic all disrupted supply chains, while U.S.-China trade tensions are also a factor.

Jordan to reopen airports to tourists in August (AP) The Jordanian government says it will begin reopening airports to international travelers in August after sealing its borders in March to help halt the spread of the coronavirus. Travelers from a list of approved, low-risk countries must pass a coronavirus test at least 72 hours before departure and will get a second test upon arrival in Jordan, Transportation Minister Khaled Saif says. Jordan will require incoming tourists to download Aman, the government’s contact-tracing mobile application, for the duration of their stay in the country.

Swapping the stage for a deli: Israel underemployment rises (AP) A year ago, Cijay Brightman was doing sound and lighting for a Madonna performance in Israel. Now, after the coronavirus wiped out live events, he’s making sandwiches, slicing cheese and serving customers at a Tel Aviv deli. Brightman spent the last 15 years perfecting his craft and doing what he loves as a stage technician. But in the wake of the pandemic, he has been forced to abandon his passion and profession—like thousands of others in Israel—and find any job that will pay the bills. Underemployment is plaguing workers around the world. Although there are no global statistics yet, the phenomenon is expected to grow as the economic crisis around the world deepens, said economist Roger Gomis of the International Labor Organization.

King Salman hospitalized (Foreign Policy) Saudi Arabia’s King Salman bin Abdulaziz has been admitted to hospital with gallbladder problems, state media reported on Monday. The 84-year-old monarch is the second aging Gulf leader to seek medical attention recently, after 91-year-old Kuwaiti ruler Emir Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmad Al Sabah underwent surgery on Sunday for an as yet unnamed ailment.

Uganda’s Museveni seeks re-election to extend rule to four decades (Reuters) Uganda’s long-serving President Yoweri Museveni has collected papers to seek nomination as the ruling party’s candidate in next year’s presidential election, the party said on Tuesday. Securing a new term would potentially extend the 75-year-old former rebel fighter’s rule to four decades. Though no date has yet been fixed for the 2021 vote, it is typically held in February. The strongest opposition presidential aspirant is pop star and lawmaker Bobi Wine, 38, whose music endears him to the young. In power since 1986, Museveni’s tenure is only surpassed in Africa by Equatorial Guinea’s Teodoro Obiang, who has ruled since 1979 and Cameroon’s Paul Biya, who has ruled since 1982.

[sprmint-bkgsoda]

THE 1619 PROJECT - THE NEW YORK TIMES

HOW SLAVERY MADE ITS WAY WEST

By Tiya Miles

Slavery leapt out of the East and into the interior lands of the Old Southwest in the 1820s and 1830s. Cotton began to soar as the most lucrative product in the global marketplace just as the slaveholding societies of the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic were reaching limits in soil fertility. To land speculators, planters, ambitious settlers and Northern investors, the fertile lands to the west now looked irresistible.

The Native American nations that possessed the bulk of those lands stood in the way of this imagined progress. President Andrew Jackson, an enslaver from Tennessee famous for brutal “Indian” fighting in Georgia and Florida, swooped in on the side of fellow enslavers, championing the Indian Removal Act of 1830. When Congress passed the bill by a breathtakingly slim margin, Cherokees, Creeks, Choctaws, Chickasaws and Seminoles in the South as well as Potawatomis, Wyandots, Odawas, Delawares, Shawnees and Senecas in the Midwest were relocated to an uncharted space designated as Indian Territory (including present-day Oklahoma and Kansas). “Removal,” as the historian Claudio Saunt argues in a forthcoming book on the topic, was far too quiet a word to capture the violation of this mass “expulsion” of 80,000 people.

As new lands in the Old Southwest were pried open, white enslavers back east realized that their most profitable export was no longer tobacco or rice. A complex interstate slave trade became an industry of its own. This extractive system, together with enslavers moving west with human property, resulted in the relocation of approximately one million enslaved black people to a new region. The entrenched practice of buying, selling, owning, renting and mortgaging humans stretched into the American West along with the white settler-colonial population that now occupied former indigenous lands.

Slaveholding settlers who had pushed into Texas from the American South wanted to extend cotton agriculture and increase the numbers of white arrivals. “It was slavery that seemed to represent the soft underbelly of the Texas unrest,” the historian Steven Hahn asserts in “A Nation Without Borders.” Armed conflict between American-identified enslavers and a Mexican state that outlawed slavery in 1829 was among the causes of the Mexican-American War, which won for the United States much of the Southwest and California.

Texas became the West’s cotton slavery stronghold, with enslaved black people making up 30 percent of the state’s population in 1860. “Indian Territory” also held a large population of enslaved black people. Mormons, too, kept scores of enslaved laborers in Utah. The small number of black people who arrived in California, New Mexico and Oregon before midcentury usually came as property. Even as most Western states banned slavery in their new constitutions, individual enslavers held onto their property-in-people until the Civil War.

Enslaved men who had served in the Union Army were among the first wave of African-Americans to move west of their own free will. They served as soldiers, and together with wives and children they formed pocket communities in Montana, Colorado, New Mexico and Texas. It is a painful paradox that the work of black soldiers centered on what the historian Quintard Taylor has called “settler protection” in his classic 1998 study of African-Americans in the West, “In Search of the Racial Frontier.” Even while bearing slavery’s scars, black men found themselves carrying out orders to secure white residents of Western towns, track down “outlaws” (many of whom were people of color), police the federally imposed boundaries of Indian reservations and quell labor strikes. “This small group of black men,” Taylor observes, “paid a dear price in their bid to earn the respect of the nation.”

[gwendolynlerman]

Discovering the world

Malaysia 🇲🇾

Basic facts

Official name: Malaysia

Capital city: Kuala Lumpur

Population: 34.3 million (2023)

Demonym: Malaysian

Type of government: federal parliamentary constitutional monarchy

Head of state: Ibrahim Iskandar (Monarch)

Head of government: Anwar Ibrahim (Prime Minister)

Gross domestic product (purchasing power parity): $1.3 trillion (2024)

Gini coefficient of wealth inequality: 40.7% (medium) (2021)

Human Development Index: 0.807 (very high) (2022)

Currency: ringgit (MYR)

Fun fact: It has the biggest roundabout in the world.

Etymology

The country’s name is a combination of the word “Malay” and the Latin-Greek suffix -ia, so it can be translated as “land of the Malays”.

Geography

Malaysia is located in Southeast Asia and borders Thailand and Brunei to the north and Indonesia to the south.

There are two main climates: tropical monsoon in the northwest and tropical rainforest in the rest. Temperatures range from 21 °C (69.8 °F) in winter to 33 °C (91.4 °F) in summer. The average annual temperature is 27 °C (80.6 °F).

The country is divided into thirteen states (negeri) and three federal territories (wilayah persekutuan). The largest cities in Malaysia are Kuala Lumpur, Kajang, Seberang Perai, Subang Jaya, and Klang.

History

2nd century-1026: Gangga Negara

200s-1500s: Langkasuka

330-1821, 1842-present: Sultanate of Kedah

449-1454: Old Pahang Kingdom

671-692, 1028-1347: Melayu Kingdom

671-1025: Srivijaya

848-1279: Chola Empire

1293-1527: Majapahit

1351-1767: Ayutthaya Kingdom

1363-1888: Sultanate of Brunei

1400-1528: Malacca Sultanate

1400-1902: Sultanate of Patani

1457-1915: Sultanate of Sulu

1470-1623: Pahang Sultanate

1496-1903: Kingdom of Aceh Darussalam

1509-1641: Malay-Portuguese conflicts

1511-1641: Portuguese Malacca

1528-1855, 1886-present: Johor Sultanate

1599-1641: Sultanate of Sarawak

1641-1795, 1818-1825: Governorate of Malacca

1770-1881: Pahang Kingdom

1821: Siamese invasion

1826-1946: British Malaya

1841-1946: Raj of Sarawak

1941-1945: Japanese occupation

1946-1948: Malayan Union

1946-1957: Crown Colony of Malacca; Crown Colony of Penang

1946-1963: Crown Colony of North Borneo; Crown Colony of Sarawak

1948-1960: Malayan Emergency

1948-1963: Federation of Malaysia

1963-present: Malaysia

1968-1989: Communist insurgency

1969: 13 May incident

2020-2022: political crisis

Economy

Malaysia mainly imports from and exports to China, Singapore, and the United States. Its top exports are palm oil, electronic circuits, and refined oil.

It has natural gas, oil, and tin reserves. Services represent 58.6% of the GDP, followed by industry (24%) and agriculture (6.3%).

Malaysia is a member of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation.

Demographics

Malays account for 57.3% of the population, while Chinese people represent 22.9%, indigenous peoples 12.4%, and Indians 6.6%. The state religion is Islam, practiced by 63.5% of the population, almost all of which are Sunni.

It has a positive net migration rate and a fertility rate of 1.7 children per woman. 74.7% of the population lives in urban areas. Life expectancy is 76.1 years and the median age is 29.5 years. The literacy rate is 88.7%.

Languages

The official language of the country is Malay, but English is an official language of institutions in two states.

Culture

Malaysian culture has Arabic, British, Chinese, Indian, and Persian influences. Malaysia is one of the most tolerant countries in Asia due to its multiethnic society.

Men traditionally wear a long-sleeved shirt (baju), pants (celana), a skirt-type adornment (samping), and a cap (songkok). Women wear a knee-length blouse (baju) and a long skirt (sarong).

Architecture

Traditional houses in Malaysia are placed on stilts, made of wood, and have tile roofs.

Cuisine

The Malaysian diet is based on fish, meat, rice, and vegetables. Typical dishes include gulai (curry stew with fish or meat and vegetables), kebebe (a salad with bamboo, chili peppers, fruit, and shrimp paste), kek batik (a cake made of butter, chocolate powder, cookies, eggs, and condensed milk), mee bandung (noodles with chilies, egg, onion, and dried shrimps), and nasi lemak (rice cooked in coconut milk and served with anchovies, chili paste, and cucumber).

Holidays and festivals

Like other Buddhist, Christmas, Hindu, and Muslim countries, Malaysia celebrates Buddha Day, Christmas Day, Diwali, Mawlid, Revelation of the Quran, Eid al-Fitr, Eid al-Adha, and Islamic New Year. It also commemorates New Year’s Day, Chinese New Year and Labor Day.

Specific Malaysian holidays include King’s Birthday on the first Monday of June, Independence Day on August 31, and Malaysia Day on September 16.

Malaysia Day

Other celebrations include the Malaysia Water Festival, which features a fishing tournament, kayaking, and sandcastles; the Taday Ka’amatan Harvest Festival, where there are arm-wrestling and blowpipe shooting competitions, and Thaipusam, a Tamil festival with a grand procession.

Thaipusam

Landmarks

There are five UNESCO World Heritage Sites: Archeological Heritage of Niah National Park’s Caves Complex, Archeological Heritage of the Lenggong Valley, Gunung Mulu National Park, Kinabalu Park, and Melaka and George Town, Historic Cities of the Straits of Malacca.

Gunung Mulu National Park

Other landmarks include the Batu Caves, the Kota Kinabalu City Mosque, the Petronas Twin Towers, the Taman Negara National Park, and the Thean Hou Temple.

Thean Hou Temple

Famous people

Abdul Samad bin Muhamad Samad - poet and writer

Bernice Chauly - artist and writer

Henry Golding - actor

Jimmy Choo - fashion designer

Lee Chong Wei - badminton player

Michelle Yeoh - actress

Nicol David - squash player

Nigel Ng - comedian

Poh Ling Yeow - chef

Siti Nurhaliza - singer

Nigel Ng

You can find out more about life in Malawi in this article and this video.

[opedguy]

Senegal Asks Putin to Release Grains

LOS ANGELES (OnlineColumnist.com), June 3, 2022.--Asking 69-year-old Russian President Vladimir Putin to release grain shipments from Odessa, Senagal’s 60-year-old President Macky Sall met a the Kremlin to help avert a possible famine in Africa.  Africa has many other grain exporting countries from which to purchase corn, wheat, barley, rice and soybeans.  So when it comes to Macky, he knows that Africa has many other options for buying grains to feed the continent.  Going to Putin plays well in the Western press but doesn’t tell the real story about an expected African famine. American, Chinese and Indian grain producers welcome Africa’s business, of course would also like to buy Russian and Ukraine’s grains.  But with 44-year-old Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky calling for more economic warfare against the Russian Federation, how can he possibly think that Putin would be open to making Ukraine any money?

President Joe Biden, 79, before he decided to fund Ukraine’s government and the war in Ukraine, should have thought of the repercussions in Africa or anywhere else where they depend on Ukrainian grain. Biden has called on the world to boycott all of Russia’s commerce, certainly energy and grain purchases.  So when it comes to offering Ukraine any incentives to make money on grain shipments, why should Putin offer any concessions, given Zelensky’s adamant demand to bankrupt the Russian economy?  U.S. government and press reports talk about the economic hardship on Russia, forcing the Kremlin to default on recent bond payments.  If the world wants to restore Ukraine’s grain business, they need to move the conflict to Istanbul where the warring parties can work out a ceasefire.  With all his cash-and-arms from the U.S., Zelensky has no incentive to go the peace table.

Senagal’s President Macky Sall said Putin expressed an openness to allow Ukrainian grain shipments to resume but only with certain conditions. Not only the Putin want mines removed from the Odessa port, he wants the U.S. and EU to end its boycott of Russia oil and natural gas products.  “President #Putin has expressed to us his willingness to facilitate the export of Ukrainian cereals,” Sall wrote on Twiter, speaking to Putin in his role a President of the African Union. Putin offered Sall that Russia would sell the African Union grains, without releasing Ukrainian grain products.  How would Zelensky feel about Russia sending grain product to the African Union?  Zelensky would be furious knowing that Putin profits with grain sales when Ukraine’s grain products rot in silos.  Zelensky should consult with Biden about ending the war, moving the conflict to Istanbul to starting negotiating.

Africa has many options when it comes to buying grain for its population.  No question that with Russian and Ukraine selling grain in the market, it lowers overall prices, adding to abundant supplies.  But for Macky to suggest that without Ukrainian grain it’s going to cause an African famine puts pressure on Putin to compromise on letting Ukraine resume grain sales.  But with Ukraine’s Black Sea coast under Russian control, it’s doubtful Putin could allow Ukraine any benefits until they agree to a ceasefire with the Kremlin’s conditions, something, so far, Zelensky has refused to do.  What the world needs to see under Zelensky as commander-in-chief is that Ukraine has lost it’s strategic port cities, running counter to Kiev’s narrative that just one more U.S. weapon system, Ukraine will turn the tide of the war.  Whatever Zelensky has done since Feb. 24, it’s only gotten worse for Ukraine.

Puitn told Macky that for grain shipments to continue, Ukraine would need to remove all mines out of Odessa harbor.  Putin doesn’t buy the Western narrative that Russia is responsible for creating a global famine by preventing grain from coming out of Ukraine’s ports.  Putin wants Ukraine to agree to an unconditional ceasefire with special steps take to remove all U.S. and EU sanctions on Russia before any discussion of returning land to Ukraine.  If you listen to Zelensky, you’d think Russian has lost the war, with its military humiliated by its poor performance in Ukraine.  Only recently, has it come out that Zelensky has lost almost the entire Black Sea coast to Russia, leaving Kiev essentially land-locked.  No one has held Zelensky accountable for his incredibly bad judgment that has cost Ukraine dearly.  Zelensky opted to battle the Russian Federation and got burned.

Getting grain out of Ukrainian ports won’t happen until the war concludes, with the White House and Kiev admitting failure, giving the Kremlin the edge in any peace negotiations.  Biden said recently that he keeps giving more lethal weapons thinking that it will give Ukraine a better bargaining position.  Giving Ukraine more lethal weapons has backfire on the White House and Kiev, forcing the Kremlin to take a far more aggressive approach to seizing more Ukrainian territory.  Zelsenky has proven he’s a failure as commander-in-chief, taking on the Russian Federation at the expense of destroying Ukraine’s infrastructure and driving some 12 million citizens into exile.  Ukraine’s parliament knows the catastrophic losses to Ukraine under Zelensky’s watch.  No one pushed Zelensky to let Ukraine serve as the U.S. proxy fighting force to weaken the Russian Federation army.

About the Author

John M. Curtis writes politically neutral commentary analyzing spin in national and global news. He’s editor of OnlineColumnist.com and author of Dodging The Bullet and Operation Charisma

[tradologieglobal]

Non-Basmati Rice Exports from India: An Overview

India is a major non-basmati rice exporter in global markets giving stiff competition to Vietnam. Thailand and the USA are the other two countries producing and exporting parboiled rice and 100% broken rice. In the financial year 2021, India witnessed an increase in exports driven by record-high sales of non-basmati (13.9 million tons) and Basmati rice (4.6 million tons). According to the Agriculture and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), the shipments of Non-Basmati Rice rose 115.44 percent to $3.51 billion in April-January 2020-21 from $1.63 billion in the same period in 2019-20.

Rice features among the most exportable commodities from India with strong demand. The worldwide markets for Indian rice are highly dynamic in nature and the barriers to trade are slowly but surely being lowered in different parts of the world.

The major countries importing non-basmati rice from India are China, the Philippines, the USA, Ivory Coast, Senegal, Benin, United Arab Emirate, Bangladesh, Guinea, and Somalia. The market drivers of this trend include the following:

Growing consumer demand for rice

India’s strength in growing high-quality basmati as well as non-basmati rice

A liberal export policy

Price competitiveness

The export demand is high because of the price competitiveness of Indian non-basmati rice in the world market. Indian Rice is available in the $360-390 per tonne range as compared to Thailand’s $495 per tonne, Vietnam’s $470 per tonne, and Pakistan’s $440 per tonne. Non-Basmati rice price in India is the best in the industry.

Non-basmati Rice Exporters in India in recent times

According to the All India Rice Exporters Association (AIREA), Bangladesh is most likely to procure 50,000 tons of rice through the National Cooperative Marketing Federation of India (Nafed) in the financial year 2021 and boost trade in non-basmati trade in the country. The other two countries expressing strong demand for India’s non-basmati rice are Africa and China.

China is emerging to be a major importer of non-basmati broken rice from India, which they are using to manufacture noodles and wine. In the financial year 2021, there has been a spike in exports to China with the country placing large orders with Indian rice companies.

African nations feature among the biggest importers of Indian non-basmati rice. In the year 2020-21, Africa accounted for 54% of India’s $4.79 billion non-basmati rice shipments. Benin was the largest importer of rice valued at $443 million. Countries in West Asia and Africa have increased their non-basmati imports over the past few months to create a reserve stock of the cereal in anticipation of global food scarcity. Countries that have demonstrated a significant increase in imports in different types of non-basmati rice between April and December 2020 are Iran, Madagascar, Malaysia, Benin, Togo, and Senegal.

The Philippines is another major importer of Indian rice; it has demonstrated its eagerness to import by reducing the import duty on rice being shipped from India from 50 percent to 35 percent in May 2021.  Earlier in the year, Bangladesh had reduced import duty on rice to 25% from 62.5%. Indian exporters can make the most of the events to supply non-basmati rice to these countries and accrue better prices for their shipments.

[indochinanews]

India work on Services, Cannot Match Chinese Manufacturing says China

India urged to export services to the narrow deficit with China.

East India Company Style, India should focus on providing Coolie Labor and Raw Material says China

India has a keen interest in expanding exports to China through the China International Import Expo (CIIE), as the South Asian country hopes that any such increase could help reduce its trade deficit and ease depreciation pressure on the rupee. However, India should export services like IT-related services instead of commodities to narrow the deficit with China, experts said.

On Tuesday, subsidiaries of the China National Machinery Industry Corp (Sinomach) signed 21 import purchasing contracts.

One contract was signed with India-based salt supplier Rankers International for industrial salt, Sinomach told the Global Times on Thursday.

On Tuesday, India-based Jay Shree Tea & Industries signed a $1 million export contract with China’s State-owned grain trader COFCO for exports of Indian black tea to China, according to a statement released by the Indian embassy in Beijing.

The statement said that China is India’s 10th-largest tea export destination, but this ranking is “poised to be improved” with more Indian tea finding its way into the Chinese market.

At the CIIE, the Global Times saw that agricultural products including sugar, rice, soybean meal and rapeseed meal were showcased at the Indian National Pavilion. Tourism and pharmaceutical services were also on display.

“The expo is going very well. So far, we have had inquiries for Indian rice, sugar, black tea, soybeans, soymeal, rapeseed meal and spices,” Manoj Kumar, assistant manager of the National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India, said, noting that business prospects are bright. China can replace Britain as the future East India Company.

The Indian and Chinese governments are working to resolve the bilateral trade deficit. According to the Economic Times on Wednesday, Indian Commerce Secretary Anup Wadhawan, who is visiting Shanghai to attend the CIIE, has expressed concerns to Chinese government officials regarding the large trade deficit. However unlikely too as only China has to gain, India will only lose.

China imported $15.55 billion worth of goods from India while it exported $64.2 billion in products to India in the first 10 months this year, customs figures showed. almost another 100 Billion entered invisibly, through shipped products either via mail or shown as imported from other Chinese owned companies in other countries like Vietnam, Bangladesh, etc.

Wang Haixia, an expert with the China Institute of Contemporary International Relations, told the Global Times on Thursday that India values the Chinese market.

The potential demand from China could drive India’s industrial output and boost its economy, which, despite a fast GDP growth rate, is still vulnerable to external factors such as oil price hikes and the all-out war declared by China against the Indian Sub-Continent

Zhao Gancheng, director of the South Asia Studies Department at the Shanghai Institute for International Studies, forecast that Indian companies would be more active in future CIIEs, following the publicity given to this year’s CIIE deals. “This is the first CIIE, and Indian companies don’t know much about it. When Indian companies hear about the deals signed during this event, I think they will be more motivated to attend future CIIEs, as they lose thier own manufacturing base and become dependent on Chinese Imports” he noted.

However, experts pointed out that Indian’s high expectations for expanding exports to China may not translate into the desired results, as china has protected her market, whereas India has left hers wide open. “Most exports from India to China are low value-added primary commodities, so the scope for growth is very limited,” Wang said.

Experts also urged India to consider exporting industries in which it has an advantage such as Coolie based IT-related services. She also suggested that the best way to shrink India’s trade deficit with China is to roll out appealing policies to attract Chinese companies to set up local factories and destroy Indian manufacturing capabilities and work as coolies in chinese owned factories

Zhao noted that India can export more agricultural products to China as she did to Britain under the East India Company.

[irefindia]

Where Does the Indian Rice Exporters Federation Operate?

Introduction

The Indian Rice Exporters Federation (IREF) plays a pivotal role in the global rice trade, representing India's interests in one of the world’s largest rice export markets. Understanding the geographical scope of the IREF's operations is crucial for stakeholders, businesses, and policymakers to navigate the complexities of the rice export sector. This blog explores the areas where the Indian Rice Exporters Federation operates, highlighting its influence and strategic engagements in the global rice trade.

1. National Scope: Regions of Rice Production in India

The Indian Rice Exporters Federation’s operations are closely tied to India’s major rice-producing states. Here’s a look at the key regions:

Punjab and Haryana: Known as the "Granary of India," these states are pivotal in the production of both basmati and non-basmati rice varieties. The IREF’s operations in these areas focus on ensuring quality standards and promoting exports.

Uttar Pradesh: As one of the largest rice-producing states, Uttar Pradesh contributes significantly to the federation’s export activities, particularly for non-basmati varieties.

West Bengal: A major player in both the domestic market and the export sector, West Bengal’s rice varieties are integral to the federation’s operations, especially in meeting international demand.

Andhra Pradesh and Telangana: These states are prominent in producing high-quality varieties of rice, including premium basmati. The IREF’s activities in these regions include supporting farmers and exporters to meet international standards.

Tamil Nadu: Known for its diverse rice varieties, Tamil Nadu plays a key role in fulfilling export demands, with the IREF focusing on enhancing trade and quality standards.

2. International Operations: Major Export Markets

The Indian Rice Exporters Federation’s influence extends beyond national borders. The federation’s international operations are crucial in maintaining India’s position as a leading rice exporter. Key export markets include:

Middle East and North Africa (MENA): Countries in the MENA region are significant importers of Indian rice, particularly basmati. The IREF works to strengthen trade relations and ensure compliance with regional standards.

Southeast Asia: India exports a considerable amount of rice to Southeast Asian countries, including Malaysia and Indonesia. The IREF focuses on navigating regional trade agreements and maintaining competitive pricing.

Europe: European countries are growing markets for Indian rice, especially specialty varieties. The IREF’s operations in Europe involve ensuring adherence to strict quality and safety regulations.

North America: The United States and Canada are key markets for Indian rice, with the IREF working to expand market share and address regulatory challenges.

Africa: Indian rice exports to Africa have been increasing, with the IREF playing a role in addressing logistical challenges and meeting the diverse needs of African consumers.

3. Strategic Initiatives and Partnerships

To strengthen its global presence, the IREF engages in various strategic initiatives and partnerships:

Trade Fairs and Exhibitions: The IREF participates in international trade fairs and exhibitions to showcase Indian rice and build connections with global buyers.

Bilateral Agreements: The federation works on forming bilateral trade agreements to facilitate smoother export processes and address trade barriers.

Quality Certification Programs: Ensuring that Indian rice meets international quality standards is a key focus. The IREF collaborates with certification bodies to maintain and enhance the quality of exported rice.

4. Challenges and Future Outlook

Despite its robust operations, the IREF faces several challenges:

Logistical Issues: Exporting rice involves complex logistics, including transportation and warehousing, which can impact the efficiency of exports.

Regulatory Hurdles: Different countries have varying regulations for food imports, and navigating these can be challenging for the federation.

Market Competition: With competition from other rice-producing countries, maintaining a competitive edge is crucial for the IREF.

Looking ahead, the IREF is focusing on expanding its market reach, improving export processes, and enhancing the quality of Indian rice to sustain and grow its global presence.

Conclusion

The Indian Rice Exporters Federation operates extensively both within India and on the global stage, playing a vital role in the international rice market. By focusing on major rice-producing regions in India and key export markets worldwide, the IREF continues to drive India’s rice export success. Understanding these operations provides valuable insights into the dynamics of the global rice trade and the federation’s strategic efforts to overcome challenges and seize opportunities.

[federalagro-blog]

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[billion-heartbeats]

“We the People”: The Indian Republic

72nd Republic day- unfinished agenda is staring!

Is Democracy in peril?

 America and India are the two largest democracies in the world. Alarming analogies are being drawn between the storming of US capitol on 6th January 2021  and breaching of the Red fort in Delhi on 26th January 20201. The storming of the United States Capitol was a riot and violent attack. The revolt- observed world over is a warning bell. Many of those who stormed were racists and Proud Boys members’ of Trumps stop the steal and save America rally. The unnerving sight of Confederate flag that emerged during the storming of US capitol by Trump mobs brought back bloody memories of civil war.

 The Nishan sahib on the other hand is a holy religious flag of Sikh community. The farmers’ protest has been consistently identified with religious flags.  But the climbing on to poles, waving the flag from the ramparts of Red Fort and later hoisting the Nishan Sahib, at the Red Fort on the 72nd Republic Day of India has sent shock waves across India and the world! The shocking visuals will be forever etched in the memory of Indians. Did the protesting farmers forget that on 15 August 1947, Nehru, raised the Indian national flag above the Lahori Gate and that every year the PM hoists the Indian “tricolour flag” at the Red fort?

Is Democracy in India- in peril?

 On foot and in tractors, the protesters were part of a huge rally planned for India's Republic Day. The storming of the red fort has made the 72nd republic day of India as the 'republic of fear'. Red fort is a Symbol of the sanctity of our democracy.

 Red Fort was breached; 120 and odd Police Personnel injured with some in ICU. There were actually armed insurrectionists in an inflammatory state of madness marching menacingly up the steps of Red Fort- never seen before! January 26, 2021 was an unforgettable crackpot day not just for us but for a flabbergasted world watching the grotesqueness at play in the red fort! The security infrastructure guarding the historical place, where the Prime Minister unfurls the National flag was feeble and unprepared. Supporters of Khalisthan movement and anti-national forces have infiltrated the Farmers protest.

 Now, I am a common man.

The Common Man is a cartoon character created by Indian author and cartoonist R. K. Laxman. For over a half of a century, the Common Man has represented the hopes, aspirations, troubles and perhaps even foibles of the average Indian. Clad in a dhoti and a plaid jacket, the puzzled Common Man is no dupe: his sharp observations never missed  details of the political circus.

Are we a successful nation?

Yes and NO!

We seem to be suffering from a colonial hangover! Seven decades after Independence, the legacy of the British Empire continues to define India in many ways, in terms of the institutions and regulations we inherited and chose to persist with. Westminster model of democracy has failed us as reflected in the unfinished agenda of free India.

 India is a paradox

Within India there live many India-s including Rural Bharath and an Urban India and to quite a few others the Hindustan! The rich and content India, the poor and weak India, the mediocre India, the ailing India, the rejoicing India, the satiated India, the starving and famished India, the India that reaches out to the space, the India that struggles hard to write it’s name. India dreams to develop into a superpower but a third of the world’s poor still live here. India is one of the fastest developing economies in the world but also a home to the largest number of malnourished children.

 Parliamentary democracy

 In India, parliamentary democracy actually means appealing to caste and communal vote banks. It only has further entrenched them. Cash, caste and charisma- in that order, win you elections. Still elections are declared Free and fair. The Parliamentary Democracy has failed to deliver the basic necessities of life to the majority of Indians even after 72 yrs.

 Respect for ourselves guides our morals; Respect for others guides our manners. Respect is one of mankind’s most noble sentiments. The highest levels of respect are always earned – never given. “As a citizen - I should be an Honest Person, Understand the Values and have Good Manners and Proper Conduct and Learn to accept responsibility for my own actions. This is the only way we can develop and help India develop.

Within two years of independence in 1947 and through open and spirited debate, India produced a constitution that guarantees “fundamental rights and a federal and parliamentary system with a significant role for the Supreme Court. But we are into an illusion. The superstructures of democratic government—a parliament and prime minister, periodic elections, constitutionally-guaranteed freedoms—hide the realities of on-the-ground rule by local landlords, bureaucracy, and party and industrialists, buttressed by a culture of caste-based inequality, and sustained by India’s continuing poverty. A democratic India has not been able to match Communist China’s ability to bring about an economically stable society!

 Unfinished agenda

 Macro achievements

 Right after independence up to mid-1960s, we had to import food grains. Today India is self-sufficient in food production and exports various food grains. We are largest producers of fresh fruits, milk, pulses and oil seeds, largest producers of wheat, rice, and sugarcane.

 India is one of four largest military powers with nuclear capability in the world today. We  have a sophisticated missile program.  We have developed one of the most envious space programs in the world. To this day, we have launched successful Lunar and Mars missions; all thanks to Indian Space Research Organization. Indian science is transforming India!

  Despite its impressive economic growth, India still faces large challenges to overcome. Wealth at the top has not trickled down to the bottom. In 2017, 81% of the population still lived on less than Rs 140.00 a day. In the same year almost 30% of adults were illiterate and only 7% of Indians graduated.

Eradicate Extreme Hunger and Poverty

 Can the Indian government declare that in the next 5 years India will be in the list of 50, “NO-hungry” countries? That is the greatest freedom the government can offer! The Global Hunger Index- India is 103rd of 119 surveyed for 2018. Nearly 6oo million go hungry every day.

International poverty line is US$ 1.25 per day and as per the World Bank report 32.7% of the population in India lives below the poverty line whereas 68.7% survive on less than US$ 2 per day. 45% of children in India are malnourished. India has achieved the poverty reduction target.  However, progress is uneven.

Corruption has corrupted India!

 While India remains the most corrupt country in this region, with 69 per cent bribery rates, Japan came out as the least corrupt nation, with a 0.2 per cent bribery rate. Many Indians believe that God accepts money in return for his favors. So, they believe, there is nothing is wrong in bribery!

 Religion is transactional in India. Outside the temple walls, such a transaction is called “bribe”. India’s temples collect so much that they don't know what to do with it. Billions are gathering dust in temple vaults. Corruption breeds corruption. It has ceased to carry any stigma!

 Corruption is regarded as the biggest reasons of poverty in India. Corruption in the Public Distribution System is the worst of its kind. The leading source of corruption in India is entitlement programs and social spending schemes that are meant for the welfare of our society.,

 Child labor!

 We have five million children in the labor market, says official figures. Their actual numbers may be four times as many. As a nation, we have failed each one of them. The debate on child labor should have been settled with the Constitutional amendment recognizing the right to education as a fundamental right. The problem is anything but over!

  Education-  

 India has nearly achieved Universal Primary Education. 96 % of all children between the ages of 6-14 are enrolled in school. There are 229 million students enrolled in different accredited urban and rural schools of India. The quality of its education is in crisis. 95 percent of children attend primary school- just 40 % attend the secondary schools and Gross enrolment rate in Higher education is- 20%. 7% come out as graduates and only 20% of these are employable!

 The number of graduates coming out of technical colleges is over 700,000.  However, according to one study, 75% of technical graduates and more than 85% of general graduates lack the skills in the high-growth global industries.  

In January 2019, India had over 900 universities and 40,000 colleges. Our university system is, in many parts, in a state of disrepair. Almost two-thirds of our universities and 90% of our colleges are rated as below average. The new National Education Policy 2020 introduced by the central government is going to bring profound changes to education in India.

The second freedom struggle is for ‘a caste-free India’.

 A Wake-up Call for the People! Equality is fundamental to civilized living. The caste system has become degenerated and a social evil. It is a deep-rooted problem which has defied all solutions so far.

 Religion is just a belief and faith. It can change during anytime of the life, but caste is constant. Once a shudra you are a shudra for life! Caste system is more dangerous than any religious system. Destroy India's Caste System Before it destroys India!

 Anyone with a caste mind set will be change proof - Harvard and Oxford educated are no exceptions.  Come out of caste-based reservations. Let scholarships be based on father's and mother's income and child’s merit. Refashion education. You cannot embrace 21st century with 19th century mindset!

 Secularism in India- a camouflaged hypocrisy!

Ban of Triple Talaq is first of many things to come in modern India!

True Secularism does not permit, mixing religion and State power. The Indian Constitution has allowed extensive interference in religious affairs in India's personal laws – on matters such as marriage, divorce, inheritance, alimony etc. In the West, the word secular implies three things: freedom of religion, equal citizenship to each citizen regardless of his or her religion, and the separation of religion and state. Supporters of the Indian concept of secularism claim it respects "minorities and pluralism". Many Critics claim the Indian form of secularism as "pseudo-secularism". India's acceptance of Sharia and religious laws violate the principle of Equality before the law.

 Uniform civil code- equal laws for every citizen irrespective of his or her religion, is still a mirage despite nearly a decade of Modi rule! Religious laws in personal domain, particularly for Muslim Indians, supersede parliamentary laws in India.

 A reality check- Universal healthcare in India!

 Thirty per cent of Indians don’t have access to primary healthcare facilities. About 39 million Indians fall below the poverty line each year because of out of pocket healthcare expenses. 70% of Indians spend 70% their income on healthcare and buying drugs.  

 One million infants die in India every year –114 every hour- before they are a month old. Add another million kids who die before they are five years. Now this is a country that allows 218 children to die every hour of the day.

We have successfully eradicated various epidemics and Polio from our nation. Life expectancy is 68.89 years, which was only 36 years at the time of independence. This is one of the major achievements.

 People’s Empowerment

 Freedom struggle was for an India that would be free from exploitation, oppression and discrimination on the basis of class, caste and creed. Tens of thousands of farmers are committing suicide! They are demanding secure livelihood.   Many middlemen in the name of farmers are battling against the farm laws which would ensure secure livelihood for the farmers!  Women are protesting against the blatant violation of their rights, growing incidences of rape, violence and exploitation! Youth are demanding their right to education and right to work. 

 Middleclass are demanding food at affordable prices, safe water to drink, housing, sanitation and dignity of infant feeding, defecation and menstruation! The previous governments were dithering and allowing Jammu and Kashmir to slip into Stone Age. The Prime Minister has done the right thing to abolish article 370 and 35-A to bring in hope of prosperity, development to Jammu and Kashmir on par with other states.

2021 is a year of hope! The Corona virus came from china. From an Indian perspective, the Chinese Virus and the Chinese State and its army have created an unprecedented havoc in the country. However, it is India and India alone which has handled these threats squarely and blunted them to a large extent. This is important.

 What does the Year of Hope – 2021 portend for us? It portends a year in which India will come into its own. It also portends a year in which India will have to overcome three challenges– China , Pakistan and Internal Politics, if it has to realize its potential!

 Our national leadership has the wisdom, sagacity and statesmanship in the face of adversity to come together and stand up to our enemies. Even more than that, 2021 is the harbinger of global change which opens immense opportunity for India.

Jai Hind!

 Dr N prabhu dev

Former VC Bangalore University

Former- Director Jayadeva institute of cardiology.

nprabhudev@gmail.com

[gwendolynlerman]

Discovering the world

Grenada 🇬🇩

Basic facts

Official name: Grenada

Capital city: Saint George’s

Population: 126,183 (2023)

Demonym: Grenadian

Type of government: unitary parliamentary constitutional monarchy

Head of state: Charles III (Monarch)

Head of government: Dickon Mitchell (Prime Minister)

Gross domestic product (purchasing power parity): $2.3 billion (2023)

Gini coefficient of wealth inequality: 43.8% (medium) (2018)

Human Development Index: 0.793 (high) (2022)

Currency: East Caribbean dollar (XCD)

Fun fact: It is home to the only underwater sculpture park in the world.

Etymology

The country’s name is thought to come from the Spanish city of Granada.

Geography

Grenada is located in Central America, between Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and Trinidad, and is surrounded by the Caribbean Sea.

The island has a tropical rainforest climate. Temperatures range from 22 °C (71.6 °F) in winter to 31 °C (87.8 °F) in summer. The average annual temperature is 27.1 °C (80.8 °F).

The country is divided into six parishes. The largest cities in Grenada are Saint George’s, Gouyave, Grenville, Victoria, and Saint David’s.

History

1498: first sighting

1650-1762, 1779-1783: French colony

1762-1779, 1783-1833: British colony

1795: Fédon’s rebellion

1833-1958: British Windward Islands

1951: general strike

1958-1962: West Indies Federation

1962-1974: associated statehood

1974-present: Grenada

1983: coups d’état; United States invasion

Economy

Grenada mainly imports from the United States, Trinidad and Tobago, and the Cayman Islands and exports to the United States, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, and France. Its top exports are nutmeg, fish, and wheat flour.

The economy is based on tourism. Services represent 69% of the GDP, followed by industry (20%) and agriculture (11%).

Grenada is a member of the Caribbean Community, the Commonwealth, the Organization of American States, and the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States.

Demographics

82% of the population identifies as black, while 13.3% is mixed and 2.2% is Indian. The main religion is Christianity, practiced by 96.6% of the population, 48.8% of which is Protestant.

It has a negative net migration rate and a fertility rate of 1.9 children per woman. 36.9% of the population lives in urban areas. Life expectancy is 75.7 years and the median age is 33.3 years. The literacy rate is 98.6%.

Languages

The official language of the country is English, but the primary languages are Grenadian Creole English and Grenadian Creole French.

Culture

Grenadian culture has African and British influences and less visible French influences. An important aspect is the tradition of storytelling.

Men traditionally wear a shirt and pants. Women wear a white blouse with ruffles, a long, wide skirt with ruffles and a layer on top, and a head wrap.

Architecture

Traditional houses in Grenada have colorful wooden walls, tin roofs, and balconies and porches.

Cuisine

The Grenadian diet is based on fish, meat, rice and vegetables. Typical dishes include callaloo soup (a soup of a green spinach-like leaf), fudge (candy made of coconut milk, dark chocolate, and spices), lambie souse (seafood in lime juice), oil down (a stew of breadfruit, callaloo, coconut milk, and salted meat), and pelau (a dish of beans, carrots, chicken, peppers, and rice).

Holidays and festivals

Like other Christian countries, Grenada celebrates Good Friday, Easter Monday, Whit Monday, Corpus Christi, Christmas Day, and Boxing Day. It also commemorates New Year’s Day, Labor Day, and Thanksgiving Day.

Specific Grenadian holidays include Independence Day on February 7, Emancipation Day on the first Monday in August, Carnival on August 11, and Maurice Bishop Day on October 19.

Carnival

Other celebrations include the Carriacou Parang Festival, a music and arts festival; the Chocolate Fest, and the Drum Festival.

Carriacou Parang Festival

Landmarks

There are no UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Landmarks include Fort George, the Grand Etang Nature Reserve, the Molinere Bay underwater sculpture park, the Seven Sisters Falls, and St. George’s Cathedral.

Fort George

Famous people

Andre Fletcher - cricketer

Andrea St. Bernard - taekwondo athlete

George Harris - actor

Janellle Redhead - athlete

Jennifer Hosten - model and writer

Katie Iqbal - actress

Kirani James - athlete

Leslie Hutchinson - singer

Sonika - singer

Tobias Buckell - writer

Kirani James

You can find out more about life in Grenada in this article and this video.

[karingudino]

Ideological kinks and implementation glitches mar government’s agricultural policies

Reviewing the federal government’s agricultural insurance policies within the run-up to the Price range.

The protesting farmers don’t wish to topic themselves to the uncertainties of the market | Picture: PTI

Anil Ghanwat, one of many three members of the Supreme Court docket-appointed committee on Farm Legal guidelines, had led Maharashtra farmers to agitate for entry to genetically modified, herbicide-tolerant and insect-resistant (HTBt) cotton. The federal government has not permitted this hybrid. The corporate that got here near getting regulatory approval for it withdrew its software on the final second due to the federal government’s December 2015 Bt cottonseed worth management order, which not solely fixes the retail worth but additionally royalties that franchisees can pay for proprietary traits. Farmers have been extensively rising pirated and unapproved HTBt cotton. Ghanvat led the protest planting in defiance of the regulation at a village in Akola in June 2019 with the slogan: “Bt by proper, not by stealth.”

The federal government is unwilling to grant that freedom for ideological causes, though Gujarat has benefitted from the cotton revolution led to by Bt cotton beneath Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s watch as chief minister from 2002. HTBt cotton would scale back the price of cultivation by obviating the necessity for guide weeding. Agricultural exporting nations of the world are invested in herbicide-tolerant and insect-resistant traits in cotton, soybean and maize. India should undertake the know-how to compete with them, however as an alternative has chosen to emulate the European Union, a web importer of meals that’s against GM know-how. Taking a cue from the EU, India has not finalised the laws for gene enhancing know-how both.

As president of the Shetkari Sanghatana, Ghanvat favours free markets and helps the three central legal guidelines on contract farming, the lifting of inventory limits and cess-free buying and selling outdoors the regulated mandis. Although agriculture primarily based on market costs will align it to demand, the protesting farmers of Punjab, Haryana and Western Uttar Pradesh don’t wish to topic themselves to the uncertainties of the market. They need assured procurement at formally declared flooring costs, which regularly are usually not flooring costs in any respect, however are usually increased than market costs.

If flooring or minimal help costs (MSP) have actually develop into worth ceilings, it’s as a result of the prime minister introduced in March 2018 that they might be value plus 50 per cent. The prices listed below are money bills incurred on elevating a crop plus the wages {that a} farmer would have paid if they didn’t use household labour and a revenue margin of fifty per cent. However this components could make MSPs greater than the landed worth of imports and worth Indian commodities out of the worldwide market.

On the MSP of Rs 19,750 a tonne, Indian wheat can not compete towards that of Australia, Canada, Russia and the USA, which is fetching $275-280 a tonne for March-April shipments. The price of cleansing, bagging, dealing with and transport to ports in Gujarat, plus exporters margin, will increase the value of Indian wheat to about $290 a tonne.

Farmers in north-west India should produce much less of wheat and rice and Maharashtra much less sugarcane as a result of India produces extra of those than it wants, however farmers won’t hand over risk-free crops except they’re incentivised to diversify. Maize, mustard and pulses are good, environment-friendly substitutes supplied the federal government permits taboo applied sciences in them that may reduce down yield losses from pests and pathogens, and in addition guarantee procurement for just a few years. Ashok Gulati, a member of the SC committee on Farm Legal guidelines, has sought a Rs 10,000 crore diversification fund for Punjab. The federal government also needs to vigorously implement a programme to convey the Inexperienced Revolution in rice and different crops to water-rich japanese India. It was initiated by the late president Pranab Mukherjee in 2010 as finance minister, however appears to have misplaced its manner.

Some headline-grabbing however well-intended programmes of the federal government have fallen wanting promise as a result of implementation has been lower than thorough. The digital Nationwide Agriculture Market (e-NAM), which the Prime Minister launched in April 2017, was meant to create a nationwide marketplace for agricultural produce by enabling contact-less distant buying and selling on the idea of licensed high quality. It was launched in April 2017 and covers a few thousand regulated mandis. However interstate gross sales haven’t taken off to the extent anticipated, says Neelkamal Darbari, managing director of Small Farmers’ Agribusiness Consortium (SFAC), which manages it. About 40 per cent of the e-NAM mandis don’t have assaying services (or personnel) to grade produce on the idea of parameters like moisture stage and admixture like pebbles. With out this, buying and selling might be a leap of religion.

5 years on, the federal government’s flagship crop insurance coverage programme continues to offer insufficient cowl to farmers regardless of being restructured many instances. States don’t pay their share of the premium on time. Delays in estimation of losses maintain up settlement of claims. The losses are additionally not precisely estimated, leading to partial compensation. The churn amongst insurers doesn’t beget belief or assist the enterprise stabilise.

Dairying is a high-growth exercise, which cereal cultivators are inspired to pursue, however the authorities’s angle to the meat trade is stifling it. Enhancing milk yields requires breed, herd and fodder administration. Unproductive animals have to be culled, however cow slaughter laws makes this troublesome. To get across the laws, farmers are preferring buffaloes, whose milk additionally has the next quantity of fats. Narayan Hegde, a dairy knowledgeable, has recommended that unique overseas breeds like Jersey and Holstein Friesian must be exempt from the laws as they aren’t thought of sacred! However Karnataka ordinance promulgated this month brings even buffaloes throughout the definition of cattle (not like different states) whose slaughter beneath 13 years is prohibited.

In her final price range speech, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman introduced a thrust on Zero-Price range Pure Farming (ZBNF). That is supposed to reinforce yields at low value, sustainably, with out use of chemical fertilisers by harnessing useful microbes that launch vitamins locked up in soil and take up nitrogen and moisture from the environment. That is aligned to the federal government’s promotion of conventional and natural agriculture. All these agriculture will want extra, not much less, land to feed a rising inhabitants when agricultural land is shrinking beneath the stress of urbanisation and industrialisation.

At a seminar on the way forward for agriculture organised by NITI Aayog in affiliation with the Meals and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) on January 19, NITI Aayog’s vice-chairman Rajeev Kumar counseled ZBNF and mentioned farmers in Godavari and Guntur areas of Andhra Pradesh have been changing to it in droves. He mentioned his spouse and he have been practising it on their farm. However the chairman of Andhra Pradesh’s Farmers Fee, MVS Reddy, has given up ZBNF after attempting it for about 10 years as a result of his rice yields have been decrease than the common.

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source https://fikiss.net/ideological-kinks-and-implementation-glitches-mar-governments-agricultural-policies/ Ideological kinks and implementation glitches mar government’s agricultural policies published first on https://fikiss.net/ from Karin Gudino https://karingudino.blogspot.com/2021/01/ideological-kinks-and-implementation.html

[irefindia]

Building Stronger Global Partnerships: The Indian Rice Exporters Federation’s Vision

Introduction

In the vast landscape of global agriculture, India stands tall as one of the largest producers and exporters of rice. The Indian Rice Exporters Federation (IREF) plays a pivotal role in maintaining and expanding India’s rice export markets. This blog explores the vision of the IREF in fostering stronger global partnerships, highlighting the strategies, challenges, and potential future directions for the Indian rice export industry.

The Role of the Indian Rice Exporters Federation

The IREF serves as a collective voice for Indian rice exporters, advocating for policies and practices that benefit the industry. Its primary goals include promoting Indian rice on the global stage, ensuring quality standards, and facilitating trade negotiations. The Federation also focuses on providing support to exporters through information sharing, training, and resources.

Vision for Global Partnerships

Expanding Market Reach: The IREF envisions expanding the reach of Indian rice to new markets across the globe. This involves understanding the specific needs and preferences of different regions and tailoring products and marketing strategies accordingly. The Federation actively participates in international trade fairs, exhibitions, and delegations to promote Indian rice.

Ensuring Quality and Sustainability: Quality assurance is a cornerstone of the IREF’s vision. The Federation works closely with exporters to adhere to international standards and certifications, ensuring that Indian rice is synonymous with quality. Additionally, there is a growing emphasis on sustainable farming practices, reducing the environmental impact of rice cultivation, and promoting organic rice varieties.

Building Strategic Alliances: The IREF aims to build strategic alliances with international organizations, trade bodies, and government agencies. These alliances are crucial for navigating trade regulations, resolving disputes, and enhancing India’s competitiveness in the global market. The Federation also seeks to collaborate with research institutions for the development of new rice varieties and technologies.

Adapting to Market Trends: The global rice market is dynamic, influenced by changing consumer preferences, economic conditions, and geopolitical factors. The IREF’s vision includes staying ahead of market trends, such as the increasing demand for healthier and specialty rice varieties, by supporting exporters in innovation and product diversification.

Challenges and Opportunities

While the vision of the IREF is ambitious, it is not without challenges. The industry faces issues such as fluctuating market prices, competition from other rice-exporting countries, and logistical hurdles. Additionally, climate change poses a significant risk to rice production, necessitating adaptation strategies.

However, these challenges also present opportunities. The growing global awareness of food security and the demand for nutritious food provide a fertile ground for promoting Indian rice. Moreover, advancements in technology offer new avenues for improving yield, quality, and efficiency in the supply chain.

Future Directions

Looking ahead, the IREF is committed to fostering innovation and resilience in the Indian rice export industry. This includes investing in research and development, enhancing digital marketing efforts, and advocating for favorable trade policies. The Federation also plans to increase its engagement with farmers, ensuring that they are equipped with the knowledge and resources to meet global standards.

Conclusion

The Indian Rice Exporters Federation’s vision of building stronger global partnerships is a testament to the potential and promise of India’s rice export industry. By expanding market reach, ensuring quality, building strategic alliances, and adapting to market trends, the IREF aims to position Indian rice as a preferred choice worldwide. As the Federation continues to navigate the complexities of the global market, its efforts will not only benefit exporters but also contribute to India’s agricultural growth and food security.

Visit us : — https://iref.net/

Toll free 18004190511

Email on info@iref.net

Address Office at 73 LGF World Trade Centre, Hotel Lalit, Connaught Place, New Delhi 110001

[vignaniasacademy]

02-05-2020 Current Affairs & Daily News Analysis

SHRAMIK SPECIAL TRAINS BY INDIAN RAILWAYS FOR MIGRANT WORKERS Railway Ministry will run Shramik Special trains to move stranded migrant workers and others.

About: Under the Special Shramik Trains run by Ministry of Railways, the first train carrying almost 1,200 stranded labourers of Jharkhand from Telangana will reach to the native state tonight. Ministry of Railways and State Government efforts have worked in unison to bring back stranded labourers and students stuck in different states across the country.  Source : All India Radio ( Social Issues ) Read UPSC Current affairs and Daily News Analysis from Best IAS Coaching Institute in Bangalore Vignan IAS Academy KASHMIR SAFFRON Kashmir saffron, which is cultivated and harvested in the Karewa (highlands) of Jammu and Kashmir, has been given the Geographical Indication (GI) tag by the Geographical Indications Registry.

About: The unique characteristics of Kashmir saffron are its longer and thicker stigmas, natural deep-red colour, high aroma, bitter flavour, chemical-free processing, and high quantity of crocin (colouring strength), safranal (flavour) and picrocrocin (bitterness). It is the only saffron in the world grown at an altitude of 1,600 m to 1,800 m AMSL (above mean sea level). The spice is grown in some regions of Kashmir, including Pulwama, Budgam, Kishtwar and Srinagar. Kashmir saffron is a very precious and costly product. Kashmir saffron is renowned globally as a spice. It rejuvenates health and is used in cosmetics and for medicinal purposes. It has been associated with traditional Kashmiri cuisine. Iran is the largest producer of saffron and India is a close competitor.  Important Info : Types: The saffron available in Kashmir is of three types — ‘Lachha Saffron’, with stigmas just separated from the flowers and dried without further processing;‘Mongra Saffron’, in which stigmas are detached from the flower, dried in the sun and processed traditionally; and‘Guchhi Saffron’, which is the same as Lachha, except that the latter’s dried stigmas are packed loosely in air-tight containers while the former has stigmas joined together in a bundle tied with a cloth thread. Source : Times of India ( Geography ) Read UPSC Current affairs and Daily News Analysis from Best IAS Coaching Institute in Bangalore Vignan IAS Academy KOVILPATTI KADALAI MITTAI Kovilpatti kadalai mittai (chikki or sweet made of peanuts and jaggery) has got geographical indication (GI) tag.

About: Now, members of the Kovilpatti Regional Kadalai Mittai Manufacturers and Retailers Association, based out of Kovilpatti and some towns and villages in Tuticorin district of Tamil Nadu, will have an exclusive right over the tag. The GI tag has been granted to the groundnut sweet by the Geographical Indications Registry recognising the uniqueness of the ingredients used for its manufacture procured from the geographical area of Kovilpatti. The ingredients include groundnuts grown in the native black soil of Kovilpatti, organic jaggery and water sourced from the Thamirabarani river. The other recognised uniqueness includes the production process which is done using ‘veragu aduppu’ (firewood stove).  Source : Times of India ( culture ) Read UPSC Current affairs and Daily News Analysis from Best IAS Coaching Institute in Bangalore Vignan IAS Academy Manipur Black rice Chak-Hao gets GI tag Chak-Hao, scented glutinous rice popularly known as Black Rice which is cultivated in Manipur since centuries has got GI (Geographical Indications) registration.

About: Chak-Hao is aromatic rice cultivated in Manipur. Chak-Hao of Manipur is registered under GI certificate number 364, application for which was filled by North Eastern Regional Agricultural Marketing Corporation Limited (NERAMAC). GI status is an indication that identifies goods as produced from a particular area, which has special quality or reputation attributable to its geographical origin and GI branded goods possess a recall value amongst consumers.  Source : All India Radio ( Economy ) Read UPSC Current affairs and Daily News Analysis from Best IAS Coaching Institute in Bangalore Vignan IAS Academy Centre asks Arunachal to include Chakma, Hajong tribals in COVID-19 relief aid The Ministry of Development of the North Eastern Region (DoNER) has directed the Arunachal Pradesh government to include the Chakma and Hajong communities in the COVID-19 relief programme.

About: The Chakmas and Hajongs are ethnic people. Chakmas are predominantly Buddhists; Hajongs are Hindus. They were inhabitants of the Chittagong Hill Tracts of erstwhile East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) who migrated to India due to –Submergence of their land by the Kaptai dam on the Karnaphuli River in the 1960s. religious persecution they faced in East Pakistan as they were non-Muslims. The Indian government set up relief camps in Arunachal Pradesh and a majority of them continue to live there even after 50 years. An estimated 1 lakh Chakma and Hajong refugees are staying in India. When they came in 1964, there were about 15,000 Chakmas and about 2,000 Hajongs.  Source : The Hindu ( Social Issues ) Read UPSC Current affairs and Daily News Analysis from Best IAS Coaching Institute in Bangalore Vignan IAS Academy Kisan Sabha App launched to connect farmers to supply chain Kisan Sabha App developed by CSIR-Central Road Research Institute (CSIR-CRRI), New Delhi to connect farmers to supply chain and freight transportation management system was launched.

About: The portal connects the farmers, transporters, Service providers (like pesticides/ fertilizer/ dealers, cold store and warehouse owner), mandi dealers, customers (like big retail outlets, online stores, institutional buyers) and other related entities for timely and effective solution. The portal acts as a single stop for every entity related to agriculture, be they a farmer who needs better price for the crops or mandi dealer who wants to connect to more farmers or truckers who invariably go empty from the mandis. Kisan Sabha has 6 major modules taking care of Farmers/Mandi Dealers/Transporters/Mandi Board Members/ Service Providers/Consumers.  Source : PIB ( Economy ) Read UPSC Current affairs and Daily News Analysis from Best IAS Coaching Institute in Bangalore Vignan IAS Academy R&D STATISTICS AND INDICATORS 2019-20 The R&D Statistics and Indicators 2019-20 based on the national S&T survey 2018 was released by the National Science and Technology Management Information (NSTMIS), Department of Science and Technology (DST).

Some of the key findings of the report are the following: India’s gross expenditure in R&D has tripled between 2008 & 2018. India spent 0.7% of its GDP on R&D in 2017-18, while the same among other developing BRICS countries was Brazil 1.3%, Russian Federation 1.1%, China 2.1% and South Africa 0.8%. DST and DBT were the two major players contributing 63% and 14%, respectively of the total extramural R&D support in the country during 2016-17. Number of researchers per million population in India has increased to 255 in 2017 from 218 in 2015 and 110 in 2000. India occupies 3rd rank in terms of number of Ph. D.’s awarded in Science and Engineering (S&E) after USA (39,710 in 2016) and China (34,440 in 2015). During 2018, India was ranked at 3rd, 5th and 9th  in scientific publication output as per the NSF, SCOPUS and SCI database respectively According to WIPO, India’s Patent Office stands at the 7th position among the top 10 Patent Filing Offices in the world.  Source : PIB ( Science & Technology ) Read UPSC Current affairs and Daily News Analysis from Best IAS Coaching Institute in Bangalore Vignan IAS Academy REBATE OF STATE LEVIES (ROSL) SCHEME Garment and made-up exporters who have Rebate of State Levies (ROSL) Scheme arrears will receive it in the form of scrips, according to a Department of Revenue communication.

About: The ROSL Scheme, which reimburses the State levies that garment and made-up exports incurred, was discontinued on March 7 last year and replaced with the Rebate of State and Central Taxes and Levies scheme. The Cotton Textiles Export Promotion Council has welcomed the move, while pointing out that exporters were in need of funds now and that the scrips would provide relief. They can use it for imports too, if needed, according to the Council.  Source : The Hindu ( Economy ) Read UPSC Current affairs and Daily News Analysis from Best IAS Coaching Institute in Bangalore Vignan IAS Academy ONE NATION, ONE RATION CARD PLAN Union Consumer Affairs Minister has approved the integration of five more States and Union Territories with the National Cluster under the One Nation, One Ration Card plan.

About: These States and UTs are Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh and Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu. With this, the facility of national and inter-state portability will be available for nearly 60 Crore beneficiaries of 17 States and UTs. They will now lift their entitled quota of foodgrains from any Fair Price Shop of their choice, anywhere in these 17 States and UTs by using their existing ration card under One Nation, One Ration Card plan. Source : All India Radio ( Economy ) Read UPSC Current affairs and Daily News Analysis from Best IAS Coaching Institute in Bangalore Vignan IAS Academy SHOBHANA NARASIMHAN Professor Shobhana Narasimhan from the Theoretical Sciences Unit (TSU) at the Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research (JNCASR), an autonomous institute under the DST, has been elected as an International Honorary Member to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.

About: Prof Narasimhan heads the Computational Nanoscience group at JNCASR. She became a Fellow of the National Academy of Sciences, India in 2011 and also received the Stree Shakti Samman Science Award in 2010 and the Kalpana Chawla Woman Scientist Award of the Government of Karnataka in 2010.  Important Info : The American Academy of Arts and Sciences honours scholars and leaders who have distinguished themselves in the sciences, arts, humanities and public life.The list of previous International Honorary Members includes Charles Darwin, Albert Einstein and Nelson Mandela. Source : PIB ( Science & Technology ) Read UPSC Current affairs and Daily News Analysis from Best IAS Coaching Institute in Bangalore Vignan IAS Academy Daily Current affairs and News Analysis Best IAS Coaching institutes in Bangalore Vignan IAS Academy Contact Vignan IAS Academy Enroll For IAS Foundation Course from Best IFS Academy in Bangalore Read the full article