Rapid Fire Current Affairs | 03 Feb 2023

APEDA Organises Virtual-Buyer Seller Meet with UAE

As a part of promoting the export of millets, the Agriculture and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) organised a Virtual-Buyer Seller Meet to harness export opportunities in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

APEDA has also planned to organise millet promotional activities in South Africa, Japan, S Korea, Indonesia, Saudi Arabia, Australia, Germany, the UK and the US.

India’s major millet exporting countries are UAE, Nepal, Saudi, Libya, Oman, Egypt, Tunisia, Yemen, UK and USA with major varieties being - Bajra, Ragi, Canary, Jawar, and Buckwheat.

Deep Ocean Mission

The Union Budget 2023-24 has allocated Rs 600 crore to the Deep Ocean Mission to explore marine biodiversity for the sustainable use of resources.

Under this mission, a manned submersible will be developed to carry three people to a depth of 6,000 metres to facilitate mineral exploration in the central Indian ocean.

In 2016, India was awarded a 15-year contract to explore an area of 75,000 km2 for mining polymetallic nodules from the Central Indian Ocean Basin at depths of 5,000-6,000 metres.

Read More - Deep Ocean Mission, Samudrayaan Mission

MISHTI Initiative for Mangroves

The Union Budget 2023-24 announced a new initiative for mangrove plantations along the coastline and on salt pan lands - MISHTI (Mangrove Initiative for Shoreline Habitats & Tangible Incomes). Earlier, India joined the Mangrove Alliance for Climate launched during the UNFCCC COP27.

Although Mangroves cover only about 0.1% of the planet’s surface, they can potentially store up to 10x more carbon per hectare (ha) than terrestrial forests. They protect coastal communities by acting as a natural barrier against storm surges.

According to India State of Forest Report (ISFR) 2021, India’s total mangrove cover is 4,992 km2 (0.15% of total geographical area). India lost 40% of its mangrove cover during the last century with Kerala losing 95% of its mangroves in the last 3 decades.

Exercise Trishakti Prahar

The Indian military recently concluded exercise Trishakti Prahar — a joint training exercise in North Bengal (close to the strategic ‘Siliguri’ corridor). The aim of the exercise was to practise battle preparedness of the security forces, using latest weapons and equipment in a networked, integrated environment, involving the Army, the IAF and CAPFs.

The exercise concluded with an Integrated Fire Power Exercise at the Teesta Field Firing Ranges, aimed at synergising the firepower assets of the Indian Armed Forces and CAPFs to orchestrate an integrated battle.

The Siliguri corridor or Chicken’s neck (West Bengal) is a stretch of land bordering Bangladesh, Bhutan and Nepal, measuring approximately 170x60 km; at the narrowest it is about 20-22 km.