DAILY NEWS DIARY For Prelims & MainsMay 28, 2020 · populations in 2018 and 2019, acquiring the moniker ‘varathan kakka’ (alien mollusc). The short-necked clam fisheries in the

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DAILY NEWS DIARY (DnD)

28.05.2020

For Prelims & Mains

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Dear Student,

Warm Greetings.

DnD aims to provide every day news analysis in

sync with the UPSC pattern.

It is targeted at UPSC – Prelims & Mains.

Daily articles are provided in the form of

Question and Answers

To have a bank of mains questions.

And interesting to read.

Providing precise information that can

be carried straight to the exam, rather

than over dumping.

Enjoy reading.

THE HINDU - TH

INDIAN EXPRESS - IE

BUSINESS LINE - BL

ECONOMIC TIMES - ET

TIMES OF INDIA - TOI

Essay Paper

Editorial

Q – ‘Locust Swarm’, how Is it a new dimension to other disasters

facing India?

INTRO = Just last week, eastern India was battered by one of the most

powerful cyclones in decades and now, even as hundreds of lives are

lost every day to the coronavirus, another danger lurks on the

nation’s west. A burgeoning locust swarm in Rajasthan, Gujarat and

even parts of Madhya Pradesh threatens to amplify into an agrarian

disaster.

The desert locust, as a species, is the bane of agriculture. Monitoring

and tackling periodic outbreaks of the marauding insects are among

the objectives of the Locust Warning Organization (LWO) in Jodhpur.

There were 13 locust upsurges from 1964 to 1997, and after 2010

there was “no large scale breeding” reported. Once a significant

outbreak starts, it lasts for about two years, and then there is a

quietus for about eight year. According to LWO, the swarm building

up is potentially the “worst in decades”.

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Origin –

The breeding locusts which threaten farming are an indirect

fallout of the warming Indian Ocean. Last year, there were fears

that the monsoon may fall short because of an El Niño, or

warming of the Equatorial Pacific. However there was an extreme

flip. By July it was evident that a positive Indian Ocean Dipole, or

relatively higher temperature in the western Indian Ocean, was in

the works. This led to record-breaking rainfall in India — then a

cause for cheer — as well as in eastern Africa. But moist African

deserts precipitated locust breeding and favorable rain-bearing

winds aided their transport towards India.

Ineffective Measures –

While it is some comfort that there is now limited standing crop in

India. The spread of the locust swamp to this extent owes to

coronavirus quarantines meaning that routine coordination

activities involving India, Pakistan and Afghanistan regarding

spraying pesticides were halted.

New Dimensions to the existing crisis are –

A less highlighted aspect of global warming is that it may link disparate

disasters — floods, pandemics and pestilence — amplifying the

potency of each.

With forecasts being for good rains in Rajasthan, and, paradoxically,

conducive conditions for locust breeding during the sowing season.

This makes it necessary to abandon any territorial blame

game and focus on policies that will ensure an equitable,

sustainable future.

GS 3

Environment

Q – What is a ‘Charru Mussel’ and how is it damaging the Kerala’s

backwaters?

BACKGROUND = An invasive mussel native to the South and Central

American coasts is spreading quickly in the backwaters of Kerala,

elbowing out other mussel and clam species and threatening the

livelihoods of fishermen engaged in molluscan fisheries.

Externally, the Charru mussel resembles the green and brown mussels

(kallummekkaya in Malayalam), but is much smaller in size. Its colour

varies from black to brown, purple or dark green.

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The rapid spread of the Charru mussel (Mytella strigata) may have

been triggered by Cyclone Ockhi which struck the region in 2017.

Surveys show the presence of the Charru mussel in the

Kadinamkulam, Paravur, Edava-Nadayara, Ashtamudi,

Kayamkulam, Vembanad, Chettuva and Ponnani

estuaries/backwaters.

Ashtamudi Lake, a Ramsar site in Kollam district, remains the

worst-hit. Here the Charru mussel had established breeding

populations in 2018 and 2019, acquiring the moniker ‘varathan

kakka’ (alien mollusc).

The short-necked clam fisheries in the lake had obtained an eco

label from the Marine Stewardship Council and about 3,000

people are dependent on fisheries here. In such a scenario, the

fast-breeding Charru mussel could be seen as a ‘pest’.

With a population as high as 11,384 per sq metre here, it has

replaced the Asian green mussel (Perna viridis) and the edible

oyster Magallana bilineata (known locally as muringa).

In many areas, this invasive species has smothered beds of the

short-neck clam (manja kakka).

In all probability, the mussel reached the Indian shores attached to ship hulls or as larval forms in ballast water discharges. Cyclone Ockhi may have simply speeded up their invasion of inland waters. Though this smaller mussel is edible, the overall economic loss and impact on biodiversity is much bigger, it is pointed out. In this scenario, there is an urgent need to identify the presence of the Charru mussel in other parts of India by locating the pathways of introduction.

Snippets

Economic Development EU’s 750Billion Euro – Economic Rescue Plan

Under the proposal, which could still be blocked by more frugal northern nations, the European Commission would borrow the funds from the market and then disburse two-thirds in grants and the rest in loans to cushion the unprecedented slump expected this year due to the coronavirus lockdowns.

Much of the money will go to Italy and Spain, the EU nations worst affected by the pandemic

The plan has to be approved by all 27 member states and the European Parliament. The borrowing will ultimately have to be repaid, meaning higher national contributions to the EU budget in the future or new taxes assigned to the bloc.

Economic Development Risk-Free loans to MSME’s

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is likely to allow banks to assign zero risk weight for loans that will be extended to the micro, medium and small enterprises (MSMEs) under the 20 lakh crore economic package announced by the government.

A 3 lakh crore loan for the MSME sector, will be guaranteed by the National Credit Guarantee Trustee Company Limited (NCGTC) in the form of a Guaranteed Emergency Credit Line (GECL) facility.

Zero risk would mean that banks will not have to set aside additional capital for these loans. The move is aimed at encouraging lenders to extend credit, as banks have turned risk averse and have been reluctant to lend. Banks had been asked to extend loans automatically to eligible borrowers without fear of the ‘3Cs’ — CBI, CVC and CAG.

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Economic Development Bountiful Wheat production, despite lockdown

How about this today!?

Which of the following points along the LAC (Line of

actual Control) has the Indian-Chinese troop’s face off

taken place?

A. Pangong Tso

B. Galwan Valley

C. Demchok Valley

D. Naku la

a. D alone

b. B,C

c. A, B, C

d. All of the above

Hey from yesterday….

Which of the following Indian states haven’t been

affected from recent Locust Swarm attack?

a. Gujarat

b. Madhya Pradesh

c. Uttar Pradesh

d. Maharashtra

Answer: d

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DAILY NEWS DIARY 28.05.2020




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DAILY NEWS DIARY For Prelims & MainsMay 28, 2020 · populations in 2018 and 2019, acquiring the moniker ‘varathan kakka’ (alien mollusc). The short-necked clam fisheries in the