1.
In order to promote a greener environment in Guwahati, the Assam government is mulling to build an urban forest in the heart of the city.
According to the state government, the hillock at Borbari will be converted into a forest.
It is to be mentioned here that Borbari Hill which has an area of 4 sq hm will be soon home to 1,400 tree saplings.
These efforts will also lead to the geological stability of the hillock and surrounding areas.
The project work will be implemented by GMDA and soon a mimi forest will be built in the heart of Guwahati.
2.
There is a tree like no other on a hillock in Salmatpur in Madhya Pradesh (eight kilometres from popular Buddhis site Sanchi) – it costs the state government ₹ 12 lakh a year to maintain the tree. The Peepal tree, which the locals say is India’s first “VVIP tree”, is located five kilometres away from the Sanchi Buddhist complex, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, between Madhya Pradesh’s capital Bhopal and Vidisha town. Four security guards are deployed for the security of the tree for 24 hours.
The high-profile tree is kept in pristine condition, with local officials ensuring that even a single leaf doesn’t dry up.
The Peepal tree was planted in 2012 by then Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa from a sapling taken from the island nation. It belongs to the same Bodhi tree under which Gautam Buddha said to have achieved enlightenment.
3.
Kargil Vijay Diwas is celebrated every year to commemorate India’s victory over Pakistan in the Kargil War in 1999. The day honours the bravery and sacrifice made by Indian soldiers during the intense war. The successful operation against Pakistan was named Operation Vijay. Today, it’s the 24th anniversary of the Kargil War.
History of Kargil Diwas
The armed conflict between India and Pakistan started after the Pakistani soldiers crossed the Line of Control (LoC) and entered Kargil district of Jammu and Kashmir (now part of the Union Territory of Ladakh). Known as the Kargil War, it continued from May to July 1999.
Significance of the day
It was on this day 21 years ago that the Indian Army recaptured all the Indian posts in Kargil that had been occupied by Pakistan’s army. Since then, July 26 has been observed annually to commemorate the sacrifices made by soldiers in this war.
Captain Vikram Batra, Lt Manoj Kumar Pandey, Major Rajesh Singh Adhikari, Major Vivek Gupta and others were among the 527 brave soldiers who gave their lives for the country.
Several event and parades are organised on this day in honour of these soldiers. The main ceremony is at the Kargil War Memorial in Drass.
4.
In a veiled attack on China, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval on Tuesday said the BRICS group could work together on listing terrorists and their proxies under the UN counter-terrorism sanctions regime and underlined that the process should be free from politics and double standards.
China has repeatedly blocked the moves at the United Nations Security Council to designate Lashkar-e-Taiba and other Pakistan-based operatives as international terrorists.
Ajit Doval mentioned that listing terrorists and their proxies under the UN counter-terrorism sanctions regime is an area in which BRICS can work together.
The BRICS bloc comprises Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa.
During India’s G20 Presidency, one of the priorities is to voice the concerns of developing countries, Mr Doval said, adding India was proposing to create a global biofuel alliance under G-20.
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He recalled the Voice of the Global South summit hosted by India in which 125 countries participated and that this year the G20 agenda under India’s Presidency will truly encompass the needs of the world, especially the Global South.
Post a commentIndia attached paramount importance to the BRICS process and is willing and prepared to enhance cooperation in all joint efforts.
5.
In response to India’s announcement of a ban on the export of non-basmati rice, a surge in panic buying of rice has been witnessed in departmental stores across the United States.
The escalating demand has led to many stores imposing restrictions on the number of rice bags customers can purchase, resulting in reports of empty shelves.
To manage the situation and ensure fair distribution, numerous stores have put up notices limiting customers to purchasing only one rice bag per family.
However, concerns have arisen regarding hoarding, with fears that some individuals may stockpile rice and attempt to sell it at significantly higher prices through online forums.
Concerns about hoarding and price gouging amidst global impact
The impact of India’s export ban on non-basmati rice has resonated globally, particularly among the Indian diaspora. Non-resident Indians (NRIs) have reportedly bought 10-15 bags of Sona Masoori rice in response to the ban
The export ban implemented by India pertains only to non-basmati rice, with Basmati rice still allowed for trading outside the country. A majority of South Indians have a preference for Sona Masoori rice, which falls under the non-basmati category.
The Indian food ministry addressed the situation, stating that the export ban is essential to ensure sufficient availability and stabilise prices in the domestic market. They cited a significant 11.5 per cent increase in retail rice prices over the past 12 months, along with a 35 per cent year-on-year surge in Indian exports of non-basmati white rice during the second quarter, driven by global demand.
The price of a 9.07 kg rice bag, previously quoted at $16-18, has now doubled, with some places experiencing prices as high as $50.
As per statistics, India exports an average of 6,000 tonnes of non-basmati rice to the USA every month, with Telangana and Andhra Pradesh contributing 4,000 tonnes to this volume.
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