• Soil Health Card Day is celebrated on February 19 every year to celebrate launching of the Soil Health Card (SHC) Scheme in 2015.
  • 2015 was also marked as the International Year of Soils.

Objectives of Soil Health Card Scheme

• To issue soil health cards every two years to all farmers, so as to provide a basis to address nutrient deficiencies in fertilization practices.
  • Soil Health Card is a printed report that a farmer is given for each of his holdings. It contains the status of his soil with respect to 12 parameters, namely
    • N (Nitrogen), P (Phosphorus), K (Potassium) [Macro-nutrients];
    • S (Sulphur) [Secondary- nutrient];
    • Zn (Zinc), Fe (Iron), Cu (Copper), Mn (Manganese), Bo (Boron) [Micro – nutrients]; and
    • pH levels , Electric Conductivity, Organic Carbon (Physical parameters).
  • Based on these, the SHC will also indicate fertilizer recommendations and soil amendment required for the farm.
• To strengthen functioning of Soil Testing Laboratories (STLs) through capacity building, involvement of agriculture students and effective linkage with Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) / State Agricultural Universities (SAUs).
• To diagnose soil fertility related constraints with standardized procedures for sampling uniformly across states and analysis and design taluka / block level fertilizer recommendations in targeted districts.
• To develop and promote soil test based nutrient management in the districts for enhancing nutrient use efficiency.
• To provide financial assistance to farmers to apply corrective measures for deficiencies and popularizing balance and integrated nutrient management practices for their cropping systems.
• To build capacities of district and state level staff and of progressive farmers for promotion of nutrient management practices.

• The growing demand for the popular Teja variety of red chilli, famous for its culinary, medicinal and other wide-ranging uses, in the export market is proving to be a boon for the Khammam Agriculture Market, Telangana.
  • Khammam district, the largest producer of the Teja variety of red chilli, is the leading exporter of pungent fruit.
• The huge demand for Oleoresin, a natural chilli extract, is mainly driving the export of Teja variety of red chilli from Khammam district to various spice processing industries in several Asian countries.
• Exported to China, Bangladesh and a few other south Asian countries.
• The pungent fruit is most sought after in China and various south Asian countries including Thailand due to its unique flavour and wider applications as a natural colouring agent.

• A recent study shows that tsetse flies produce volatile pheromones that control their mating behaviour and the dangerous diseases they carry. With climate change projected to expand the areas in which tsetse flies can survive, more humans and animals are expected to be affected by these diseases in the coming years.
• Tsetse flies are known to carry parasites called African trypanosomes.
• When the insects bite humans or animals, they transmit these parasites, spreading diseases such as African sleeping sickness, which can be fatal to humans, and nagana, a disease that affects livestock and other animals.

• Recently, Sagar Parikrama Program Phase III was initiated by the Department of Fisheries from Surat, Hazira Port, Gujarat.
  • The Phase –I and Phase- II programmes of ‘Sagar Parikrama’ were organized in March 2022 and September 2022 respectively.
• Sagar Parikrama program shall be celebrated in all coastal States/UTs through a pre-decided sea route from Gujarat, Diu, Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, West Bengal, Andaman & Nicobar, and Lakshadweep Islands.
• The Parikrama shall be accompanied by the State Fisheries officials, Fishermen representatives, Fish-Farmers entrepreneurs, stakeholders, professionals, officials and Scientists from across the nation.

About

• Sagar Parikrama is an initiative of Government of India in the sea across the coastal belt demonstrating solidarity with all fisherfolk, fish farmers and concerned stakeholders as a spirit of 75th Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav.

Objectives

• to resolve the issues of the fishers and other stakeholders.
• facilitate their economic upliftment through various fisheries schemes and programs being implemented by the Government of India such as PMMSY.
• to focus on sustainable balance between the utilization of marine fisheries resources for the food security of the nation and livelihoods of coastal fisher communities.

• Underwater noise emissions by ships pose threat to Indian marine species, as per a study.
• The noise results in injuries and changes in their behavioural response besides a shift in their migration route much to their loss.
• The measurement of the ambient noise levels was carried out by deploying a hydrophone autonomous system around 30 nautical miles from the Goa coastline.

Highlights of the Study

• Increased UNE Levels:The sound pressure levels of UNE in the Indian waters are 102-115 decibels, relative to one microPascal (dB re 1µ Pa). (Scientists have agreed to use 1µPa as the reference pressure for underwater sound).
• The East Coast level is slightly higher than that of the West. There is an increase by a significant value of about 20 dB re 1µPa.
• Factors: major source is continuous shipping movement.

Impact:

• The frequencies of ships’ underwater self-noise and machinery vibration levels are overlapping the marine species’ communication frequencies in the low-frequency range of less than 500 Hz.
• This is called masking, which may lead to a change in the migration route of the marine species to the shallow regions and also making it difficult for them to go back to the deeper water.
• However, the sound that radiates from ships on a long-term basis affects them and results in internal injuries, loss of hearing ability, change in behavioural responses, masking, and stress.
  • UNE is posing a threat to the life of mammals like Bottlenose Dolphin, Manatees, Pilot Whale, Seal, and Sperm Whale.
  • The main form of energy for multiple behavioural activities of marine mammals, which include mating, communal interaction, feeding, cluster cohesion and foraging, is based on sound.

About Marine Sound Pollution

• Marine sound pollution is the excessive or harmful sound into the ocean environment. It is caused by a variety of human activities, such as shipping, military sonar, oil and gas exploration, and recreational activities like boating and jet skiing.
• It can have many negative impacts on marine life.

• Recently in Budget 2023-24, the Finance Minister has announced that India will eliminate the sickle cell Anaemia condition in a mission mode by 2047.

Current Scenario

• India is the second-worst affected country in terms of predicted births with SCA — i.e. chances of being born with the condition.
• Research and screening programmes have found that the prevalence of haemoglobinopathies — disorders of the blood — is more common among tribal populations than non-tribal communities in India.
• SCA is prevalent in communities residing in areas where malaria is endemic. The sickle cell trait thus gave an evolutionary advantage, offering immunity to some people during malaria epidemics.
• Prevalence of SCA is higher in communities that practice endogamy, as the chances of having two parents with sickle cell trait is higher.

About sickle cell anaemia

• Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a group of inherited (genetic) red blood cell disorders.
• Red blood cells (RBCs) contain hemoglobin, a protein that carries oxygen. Healthy red blood cells are round, and they move through small blood vessels to carry oxygen to all parts of the body. In SCD, the hemoglobin is abnormal, which causes the RBCs to become hard and sticky and look like a C-shaped farm tool called a “sickle.”
• It is transmitted by parents carrying a defective ‘beta globin’ gene.
• The sickle cells die early, which causes a constant shortage of RBCs.
• When they travel through small blood vessels, they get stuck and clog the blood flow. This can cause pain and other serious complications (health problems) such as infection, acute chest syndrome and stroke.

Cure

• SCA is a genetic disorder, making complete “elimination” a challenge that requires a major scientific breakthrough. The only cure comes in the form of gene therapy and stem cell transplants — both costly and still in developmental stages.
  • Gene Therapy: The DNA inside the haemoglobin gene is edited to stop the disease.
  • Stem cells Transplant: the bone marrow affected by sickle cell anaemia is replaced with healthy bone marrow from a donor.
  • Blood Transfusion: RBCs are removed from donated blood and given to a patient, but challenges include a scarcity of donors, fears around safe supply of blood, risk of infection etc.

Efforts by India to eliminate SCA

• The Indian Council of Medical Research and the National Rural Health Mission in different States are undertaking outreach programmes for better management and control of the disease. The Ministry of Tribal Affairs launched a portal wherein people can register themselves, in order to collate all information related to SCA among tribal groups.
• The National Health Mission guideline on Hemoglobinopathies also identifies “establishing services at the community level for pre-marital and pre-conception screening backed by genetic counselling services” as a strategy for addressing SCA.
• In the Budget, the Union Health Minister said the government plans to distribute “special cards” across tribal areas and the mission will receive funding under the National Health Mission.
• The mission will entail awareness creation, universal screening of seven crore people in the age group of 0-40 years in effective tribal areas and counselling through collaborative efforts of central ministries and State governments.

• India has been elected as the Chair of 62nd Session of UN CSocD.
• For the 62nd session, the priority theme of the session is decided as “Fostering Social Development and Social Justice through Social Policies to accelerate Progress on the Implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and to achieve the overarching goal of poverty eradication.”
• CSocD is one of the 9 functional commissions of the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), established in 1946.
• It advises ECOSOC on social policies of a general character and, in particular, on all matters in social field not covered by specialised inter-governmental agencies.
• It consists of 46 members. They are elected by ECOSOC based on equitable geographical distribution for four-year terms.
• ECOSOC is one of the 6 principal organs of the United Nations, established in 1945.

• Solar Wind recently passed through a gap which occurred due to a crack in Earth’s magnetic field sparking a G1-class geomagnetic storm (GMS).
• Crack occurred due to South-pointing magnetic fields weakening Earth’s defenses against solar wind. GMS is a disturbance in earth’s magnetosphere, which is the area around planet controlled by its magnetic field.
• Earth’s magnetosphere protects its inhabitants from most of the particles emitted by sun.
• It is caused by massive exchange of energy from solar wind into space environment surrounding the Earth.
• GMS are categorised between G1 and G5, the latter being the strongest.
  • If the Earth is hit with a G5-class solar storm, it can not only damage satellites and disrupt wireless communications such as internet services, mobile network and GPS, it can also cause power grid failures and even disrupt electronics such as heart pacemakers in patients.
  • The Sun entered solar cycle 25 in 2019 and it is expected that it will hit its peak in July 2025. And this is the main reason why the Sun has suddenly become so violent.
• Effect of GMS
  • Formation of bright red auroras.
  • Geomagnetic storms are also the reason behind stunning streaks of green light across the sky known as Northern Lights or Aurora Borealis.
  • Disrupt navigation systems such as Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) and create harmful geomagnetic induced currents (GICs) in power grid and pipelines.
  • Damage satellite electronics and expose astronauts and high-altitude pilots to increased levels of radiation.

• Haryana’s first nuclear power plant is poised to come up in Gorakhpur village (District Fatehabad).
• The upcoming Gorakhpur Haryana Anu Vidyut Pariyojana (GHAVP) will have two units of 700 MWe capacity each of Pressurised Heavy Water Reactor (PHWR).

India’s Nuclear Programme

• India’s 3-stage nuclear energy program, envisioned by Homi Bhabha, is based on a closed nuclear fuel cycle.
  1. Stage-I: PHWRs fuelled by Natural uranium would produce plutonium-239. Heavy water (D2O) is used as moderator and coolant in PHWR.
  2. Stage-II: Fast Breeder Reactors utilising plutonium- 239 fuel from first stage and formed uranium-238.
  3. Stage-III: Advanced nuclear power systems for utilisation of thorium.
• India successfully reached the first stage in 2013 with over 22 nuclear reactors (18 PHWRs, and 4 Light Water Reactors) in 7 nuclear power plants.
• India is currently on second stage of program.
• India’s current nuclear power capacity of 6,780 MW is expected to increase to 22,480 MW by 2031.
• Nuclear energy is fifth-largest source of electricity for India.

• Bollywood actor Vidyut Jammwal presented the Filmfare award for the “best male debut” that he had received in 2012 to his alma mater, Army Public School, Dagshai, during an alumni meet held recently.
  • Jammwal won the award for his first Hindi film ‘Force’.
• Jammwal passed out from the school in 1996.