• 14 Apr 2025

Fruit Development and Plant Hormones

Why in News? 

 Fruit ripening is the final stage and also facilitates seed dispersal as an integral part of the plant’s aging (senescence) process. 

 Key Points 

•  About Fruit Development and Plant Hormones: 
  • Phases of Fruit Development: Fruit development occurs in 3 stages:  
    • fruit set (ovary growth begins after fertilization),  
    • fruit growth (active cell division and expansion), and  
    • maturation (fruit and seed reach full size).  
    • This is followed by ripening, which improves edibility and aids in seed dispersal. 
• Process of Fruit Ripening: 

 

• Plant Hormones: 

• Substances Used for Artificial Fruit Ripening: 
  • Calcium Carbide: It releases toxic acetylene gas and may contain phosphorus, and arsenic (a carcinogenic substance)causing severe health issues.  
    • Its usage has been banned by FSSAI under Food Safety and Standards Regulations, 2011. 
  • Permitted Substances: 
    • Ethylene Gas: Approved by FSSAI up to 100 ppm (parts per million); triggers natural ripening. It must be applied in controlled ripening chambers and not in direct contact with fruits. 
    • Ethephon: Releases ethylene on breakdown and used for artificial ripening under regulated conditions. 
    • Ethereal: It is an ethylene-releasing compound used in controlled settings. 

Trend of Wheat Production in Punjab and Haryana

Why in News? 

Favourable winter weather in Punjab and Haryana is likely to increase wheat yields in 2025, even though recent unseasonal hailstorms caused some minor crop damage. 

Key Points 

• Wheat Production and Yield Estimates: 
  • An increase in the average wheat yield compared to the previous year has been projected: 
    • Punjab: In 2023–24, average wheat yield was 50 quintals/ha. In 2024–25, it may exceed 60 quintals/ha. 
    • Haryana: In 2023–24, average wheat yield was 46 quintals/ha. In 2024–25, it may exceed 50 quintals/ha. 
  • Punjab and Haryana are major contributors to the Central procurement pool, especially for wheat. 
• A strong harvest will: 
  • Improve food security and stabilize market supply. 
  • Enhance farmer incomes through better procurement prices. 
  • Benefit the Public Distribution System (PDS) and reduce food inflation. 

Wheat Production in India 

• Wheat is a Rabi crop, sown between October and December, and harvested from April to June. 
• It is India’s second most important cereal after rice and is a staple food in the northern and northwestern regions. 
• Area and Production: 
  • Wheat is the second-largest crop in India (after paddy) in terms of area covered. 
• Top Wheat-Producing States: 
  • Uttar Pradesh (largest producer) 
  • Punjab 
  • Haryana 
  • Madhya Pradesh 
  • Rajasthan 
• Top Wheat-Producing Countries: 
  • China  
  • European Union   
  • India  
• Ideal Conditions for Wheat Cultivation: 
  • Soil: Grows best in well-drained loamy or clayey soils 
  • Temperature: 
    • 10–15°C for sowing 
    • 21–26°C during ripening and harvesting 
  • Rainfall: Needs 75–100 cm of moderate rainfall 
  • Sunlight: Bright sunshine is essential during grain formation for a good yield 

Final Phase of Anti-Naxal Operations in Jharkhand

Why in News? 

Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren has stated that the battle against Left Wing Extremism (LWE) in the state is now in its last phase, indicating significant progress in counter-insurgency operations.  

• His remarks came after an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) blast in West Singhbhum, which claimed the life of a Jharkhand Jaguar jawan, Sunil Dhan. 

 Note: Jharkhand Jaguar was established in 2008 to eliminate LWE in the state. 

Key Points 

• Some of the Government Initiatives to Control Naxalism: 
  • Special Central Assistance (SCA): 
    • This Scheme was approved in 2017 and is being implemented as a sub-scheme of the umbrella scheme ‘Modernization of Police Forces’.  
    • The main objective of the Scheme is to fill the critical gaps in Public Infrastructure and Services in most LWE-affected districts. 
  • Security Related Expenditure (SRE) Scheme: 
    • The central government reimburses costs related to security operations, training, ex-gratia payments, and rehabilitation of surrendered Naxalites in affected districts like Latehar and West Singhbhum. 
  • Construction of Fortified Police Stations: 
    • As part of strengthening local law enforcement, several fortified police stations have been constructed in sensitive districts of Jharkhand under the Special Infrastructure Scheme (SIS). 
• State-wise Details of LWE Perpetrated Violence (number of deaths recorded) (Last 3 Years): 

 

Improvised Explosive Device 

• An improvised explosive device (IED) is a homemade bomb designed to destroy or incapacitate targets, commonly used by criminals, terrorists, and insurgents in various forms.  
• IEDs can be delivered through multiple means, including vehicles, placement by individuals, or roadside concealment, and gained prominence during the Iraq War that began in 2003. 

 

Review of Social Welfare Schemes in Jammu & Kashmir

Why in News? 

The Jammu & Kashmir Social Welfare Department has identified over 1.14 lakh children suffering from malnutrition as part of its intensified outreach and intervention programme. 

Key Points 

Findings of the Department: 

• Malnutrition and Health Interventions: 
  • Over 1.14 lakh children with nutrition-related health issues have been identified, including cases of severe and moderate malnutrition, as well as anaemia.  
    • These children are now being provided with special nutritional support to improve their health. 
• Coverage and Monitoring: 
  • The Supplementary Nutrition Programme has reached 9.14 lakh people. 
  • 99% Aadhaar verification has been achieved, ensuring transparency and preventing misuse. 
  • 22.76 lakh home visits (96% of the target) were made to identify and assist beneficiaries. 
• Child and Women Welfare: 
  • 116 child care homes established under Mission Vatsalya for vulnerable children. 
  • Mission Shakti is being implemented for women empowerment and protection. 
  • Financial support for girl children and marriage assistance for economically weaker sections were being provided under the Ladli Beti Scheme. 
  • Two Abhinanda Homes will be established—residential schools and rehabilitation centres for marginalised children in both J&K divisions. 
• Support to Marginalised Communities: 
  • Pradhan Mantri Anusuchit Jaati Abhuyday Yojana (PM-AJAY) is focusing on the holistic development of Scheduled Castes (SCs). 
  • Scholarships are provided for minorities, SCs, and OBCs. 
  • Prosthetic aids are offered to persons with disabilities. 
  • The department also ensures pensions and scholarships for militancy-affected families. 
  • It runs Pahari hostels for tribal communities along with proactive enforcement of more than 14 social justice laws across J&K. 
• Anganwadi and Saksham Centres: 
  • The government is strengthening Anganwadi infrastructure across J&K by upgrading centres into Saksham Anganwadis with modern facilities.  
  • There is a plan to upgrade 500 more centres by 2025–26 to enhance services and support for children. 
• Budget and Funding: 
  • FY 2024–25: ₹2,496.25 crore allocated, with 86% utilisation (₹2,147.24 crore). 
  • FY 2025–26: Budget increased by 68% to ₹4,361.14 crore, reflecting government’s renewed focus on social protection. 

 Welfare Schemes 

•  Mission Shakti: 
  • It is a scheme of the Ministry of Women and Child Development aimed at strengthening interventions for women safety, security and empowerment. 
  • Sub-Schemes: Samarthya and Sambhal 
• Mission Vatsalya: 
  • It is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS) implemented to support Children in Need of Care and Protection (CNCP) and Children in Conflict with Law (CCL) through Institutional and Non-Institutional Care. 
• Ladli Beti Scheme: 
  • The social assistance scheme by the Jammu & Kashmir Government supports newborn girl children of J&K and Ladakh (born on or after April 1, 2015) to address the declining female sex ratio and ease financial burdens for parents. 
• PM-AJAY: 
  • It is a comprehensive scheme amalgamating three Centrally Sponsored Schemes, including Pradhan Mantri Adarsh Gram Yojana (PMAGY), Special Central Assistance to Scheduled Castes Sub Plan (SCA to SCSP), and Babu Jagjivan Ram Chhatrawas Yojana (BJRCY). 
  • This initiative, launched in the fiscal year 2021-22, aims to uplift SC communities by generating employment opportunities through skill development, income-generating schemes, and various initiatives. 

Development Projects in Varanasi

Why in News? 

The Prime Minister inaugurated and laid the foundation stone of projects worth over Rs 3,880 crore in Varanasi. 

• These projects include development works related to various sectors. 

Key Points 

• About the Projects: 
  • Laid the foundation stone of road bridge between Varanasi Ring Road and Sarnath, flyovers at Bhikharipur and Manduadih and highway underpass road tunnel on NH-31 at Varanasi International Airport. 
  • Improving the power infrastructure, inaugurated two 400 Kilo-Volt (kV) and one 220 Kilo-Volt (kV) transmission substations in Jaunpur, Chandauli and Ghazipur districts of Varanasi division. 
  • Rural education was improved with the addition of libraries and Anganwadi centres, and the foundation was laid to upgrade primary schools under the Smart City Mission. 
  • PM announced the creation of an Ekta Mall, a space where diverse crafts and products from across India will be showcased under one roof in Kashi. 
  • More than ₹105 crore in bonuses were given to livestock-rearing families, mostly women. These women are now known as “Lakhpati Didis”. 
  • PM Modi also gave Ayushman Vay Vandana cards to senior citizens, ensuring free healthcare for everyone above 70, no matter their income. 
    • Under Ayushman Bharat Yojana, many families in Uttar Pradesh have received free medical treatment.  
• Objective: 
  • These projects will accelerate economic activities in Varanasi and the surrounding Purvanchal region. 
  • These projects aim to improve the infrastructure in Varanasi and surrounding areas, which will not only improve the quality of life of common citizens but will also boost business, tourism and cultural heritage. 

Note: Over 30 local products from Varanasi and surrounding districts now carry the prestigious GI (Geographical Indication) tag, including the famous thandai, red stuffed chilli, tiranga barfi and even Jaunpur’s imarti and Pilibhit’s flute. 

Varanasi 

• Introduction 
  • Varanasi, also known as Kashi and Banaras, is a major and historical city of Uttar Pradesh 
  • This city is situated on the banks of River Ganga and is considered a very sacred and important pilgrimage site in Hinduism. 
  • The name Varanasi is derived from the names of two local rivers, Varuna River and Asi River. These rivers join the Ganges River from the north and south respectively. 
  • It is also a major pilgrimage site for Buddhists and Jains.
    • Gautam Buddha gave his first sermon at Sarnath (Banaras). 
  • Varanasi is revered in Hinduism as an " Avimukta Kshetra ", where the soul attains liberation after dying. 
  • Varanasi is addressed with adjectives such as "City of Temples", "City of Lights", "City of Knowledge". 
  • The city is the centre of the Banaras Gharana of Hindustani classical music.  
    • Prominent musicians and artists from here include Ustad Bismillah Khan, Pandit Ravi Shankar and Girija Devi. 
• Education and Universities: 
  • There are four major universities in Varanasi:  
    • Banaras Hindu University, Mahatma Gandhi Kashi Vidyapeeth, Central Institute of Higher Tibetan Studies and Sampurnanand Sanskrit University. 
• Tourist Places: 
  • Kashi Vishwanath Temple 
  • Bharat Mata Mandir  
  • Sarnath 
  • Assi Ghat

Rohin Barrage

Why in News? 

Recently the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh inaugurated the Rohin Barrage Project in Maharajganj . 

Key Points 

• About Barrage:  
  • This project is an irrigation infrastructure project run by the Uttar Pradesh government , which is considered very important for the farmers of eastern Uttar Pradesh.  
  • The Rohin Barrage is about 86 metres long and provides irrigation facilities on both its banks, which will directly benefit more than 7,000 hectares of cultivable land. This area was till now dependent on rainfall or temporary water sources. 
  • Five minor canals drawn from this barrage— Ramnagar, Nakatoji, Watjagar, Siswa and Baulia —will strengthen the irrigation system. 
  • Through these canals, water supply for both Rabi and Kharif crops can be ensured. 
  • This barrage has been constructed on the Rohin river . 
  • This project will directly benefit 16,000 farmers . Availability of water in regular and structured form will be ensured to these farmers. 
  • Construction of the barrage will develop  a permanent canal system and water supply system in the surrounding villages . 

 Rabi crop 

• These crops are sown during the retreating monsoon and northeastern monsoon seasons (October), which are called rabi or winter crops. 
• These crops are generally harvested in the summer season during April and May. 
• The main Rabi crops are wheat, gram, peas, barley etc. 
• Warm climate is required for germination of seeds and cool climate is required for growth of crops.  

Kharif Crops:  

• The crops sown during the south-west monsoon season are called Kharif or monsoon crops. 
• These crops are sown at the beginning of the season from late May to early June and are harvested after the monsoon rains start in October . 
• These crops depend on the rainfall pattern. 
• Rice, maize, pulses like urad, moong dal and bajra are among the major Kharif crops. 
• They require more water and warm weather to grow.

System for preventing theft of vehicle

Why in discussion? 

Recently, a special device developed by a scientist of a government college situated in Noida, Uttar Pradesh for tracking stolen vehicles has been granted a patent by the Government of India.   

Key Points 

• This device is helpful in finding and tracking stolen vehicles . It has been named" System for Preventing Theft of Vehicle ". 
• In this, wireless chips are installed in three main parts of the vehicle – chassis , engine and number plate . 
• All these chips are connected to a main controller , which monitors the entire system. 
• The chips are specially coded , allowing them to be identified even if used elsewhere. 
• This system acts like a Fastag reader and helps the police to confirm the stolen vehicle or its part. 
• As per NCRB report, Delhi has the highest incidence of vehicle thefts in the country and this device can make a significant contribution especially in such areas . 

  National Crime Records Bureau  

• Introduction 
  • NCRB was established in the year 1986 under the Union Ministry of Home Affairs with the objective of empowering the Indian Police Service by providing information technology solutions and criminal intelligence to the police machinery for effective law enforcement. 
    • It was established based on the recommendations of the National Police Commission (1977–1981) and the Home Ministry's Task Force (1985). 
• Work 
  • The Bureau is entrusted with the task of maintaining the National Database of Sexual Offenders (NDSO) and sharing it with the States/Union Territories on a regular basis.  
  • NCRB has also been designated as the central nodal agency for managing the technical and operational functions of the 'Online Cyber-crime Reporting Portal' through which any citizen can lodge a complaint by uploading video clips as evidence of crime related to child pornography or rape/gang rape.  
  • NCRB has also been given the responsibility of implementing the Inter-operable Criminal Justice System (ICJS) project . 

Illegal construction on the banks of Ganga

Why in discussion?  

The Supreme Court has recently directed the Central and Bihar governments to submit a status report on the steps taken to remove illegal constructions on the banks of river Ganga . 

Key Points 

•  About the issue:  
  • The order was passed while hearing a petition filed by a petitioner against the June 30, 2020 order of  the National Green Tribunal (NGT). 
  • The petitioner submitted that there is large-scale illegal encroachment on the banks of the river Ganga.
  • This is adversely affecting the natural flow and ecosystem of the river . 
  • The Ganga riverbank are rich in freshwater dolphins. These dolphins are extremely important for the climate and environment and the impact of illegal constructions on their habitats can harm the biodiversity of the river. 

National Green Tribunal  

• The National Green Tribunal (NGT) was established on 18 October 2010 under the National Green Tribunal Act, 2010. 
• With the establishment of the NGT, India became the third (and the first developing) country in the world to establish a Specialised Environmental Tribunal . Prior to this, only Australia and New Zealand had established such a body. 
• The main purpose of establishing NGT is to resolve environmental issues quickly, so that the burden of cases in the courts of the country can be reduced. 
• The headquarter of NGT is in Delhi, while the other four regional offices are located in Bhopal, Pune, Kolkata and Chennai. 
• As per the National Green Tribunal Act, it is mandatory for the NGT to resolve environmental issues coming to it within 6 months. 

The River Ganges  

• It originates from the Gangotri Glacier near Gaumukh (3,900 m) in Uttarakhand where it is known as the Bhagirathi. 
• The Bhagirathi meets the Alaknanda at Devprayag; thereafter it is known as the Ganga. 
• The Ganga enters the northern plains at Haridwar. 
• The Ganga flows through Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and West Bengal. 
• The Yamuna and the Son are the major right bank tributaries and the important left bank tributaries are the Ramganga, Gomti, Ghaghara, Gandak, Kosi and Mahananda. 
• The Yamuna is the westernmost and longest tributary of the Ganges and has its source in the Yamunotri glacier. 
• The Ganga falls into the Bay of Bengal near Sagar Island.

Ramgarh Dam

Why in discussion? 

On April 11, 2025, the Water Resources Minister of Rajasthan laid the foundation stone for various repair and beautification works of Ramgarh Dam . 

Key Points 

•  About the issue: 
  • Rs 252.93 lakh has been sanctioned for the restoration of Ramgarh Dam under the budget announcement year 2024-25. This work will be completed in the next 12 months. 
  • Under the Ram Jal Setu Link Project, a plan has been made to bring water from Isarda Dam to Ramgarh Dam. 
  • Under this project, water will be supplied over a distance of 120 km ( 35 km through canal and 85 km through pipeline ). 
  • Around 3.50 lakh people will be able to get water from this project. 
• Repair operations include: 
  • repair of damaged road of pal 
  • Construction of Parapet Wall and Control Room 
  • Beautification of stairs and umbrellas of submerged area 
  • Stone pitching etc. 
• This project will prove to be a milestone in providing relief from water crisis to farmers, animal herders and villagers . 
• This will accelerate the development of Ramgarh region in the coming years as well as strengthen  the overall and balanced development of the state . 

 Ramgarh Dam  

• This dam was constructed in 1904 during the reign of Sawai Madho Singh II, the then ruler of Jaipur. 
• Located near the Banganga River, the total catchment area of this dam is 841.14 square kilometers.  
• This dam is spread over many areas of Jaipur such as Shahpur, Amer, Viratnagar . Built with a maximum water holding capacity of 75.04 million cubic meters, the government took an important decision in 1978 regarding this dam, according to which its water will be used only for drinking water supply. 

Ramjal Setu Link Project 

• This is an interstate river linking project , which aims to balance the water resources between Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh . It has now been renamed as Ramjal Setu Link Project . 
• The project will divert surplus water of the Chambal river and its tributaries — Kunnu, Kool, Parvati and Kalisindh to the Banas, Morel, Banganga, Ruparel, Parvatni and Gambhir river basins . 
• 17 districts of Rajasthan will benefit from this .