The Ministry of Defence (MoD) and the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) have recently inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). This initiative aims to inculcate healthy eating habits among armed forces, particularly through the promotion of millets. These small-seeded annual grasses are abundant in nutrients, resistant to drought, and ideal for semi-arid regions.
Being the largest producer globally, India contributes to 20% of the world’s total millet production. The “Millet Revolution” in India strives to enhance local understanding of millets’ health and environmental benefits, spread traditional farming methods, and extend support to small farm owners.
Impact of PM 2.5 on Rural and Urban India
A recent analysis by Climate Trends uncovered disturbing levels of ultrafine particulate matter (PM) 2.5 in both rural and urban regions in India in 2022. This raises questions about the government’s air pollution control measures, primarily focused on urban areas.
The study also underscored the more significant effect of PM 2.5 on rural dwellers, leading to shorter life spans. The National Clean Air Plan (NCAP), mostly targeting urban locations, has overlooked rural areas where pollution monitoring or mitigation initiatives are missing. Experts are now calling for a more inclusive monitoring system and rural-specific policies to tackle pollution.
The Discovery of New Saline-tolerant Plant Species in Kutch
A new species of saltwort, Salsola Oppositifolia Desfontainia, has been discovered by the Gujarat Ecological Education and Research (GEER) Foundation in Gandhinagar. This perennial shrub flourishes in salty, arid to semi-arid habitats in the Kutch district.
According to the recently released Plant Discoveries 2022, this species, previously found in Italy, Northern Africa, Palestine, Spain, and Western Sahara, has been found in India for the first time. This marked discovery was based on specimens collected from Khadir Bet in the Kutch region of Gujarat.
Symbiotic Alliance Between IFSCA and IIML-EIC for Financial Innovation
A memorandum of understanding (MoU) has been signed between the International Financial Services Centers Authority (IFSCA) and IIML-EIC (Enterprise Incubation Centre) at the Indian Institute of Management Lucknow (IIML). The collaboration seeks to establish a framework to support FinTech and TechFin entities.
IFSCA, the regulatory body, is tasked with the development and regulation of international financial services within the International Financial Services Centre (IFSC). This financial jurisdiction is distinct from the rest of India.
The IIML-EIC, as a not-for-profit organization, aims to foster high-performance start-ups, primarily in the realms of Big Data Analytics, Artificial Intelligence, and more.
