04-09-21 Daily-Kerala-KPSC Current Affairs

The production of coconut in Kerala during 2014-15 was 4,897 million nuts, and in 2015-16 it was 7,429 million nuts, which continued almost stable during 2016-17 with 7,449 million nuts. The production during 2018-19 slid down to 7,684 million nuts, from where it went further down to 6,980 million nuts in FY20. And further declined to 6,975 million nuts by 2020-21, CDB said in a reply to the RTI activist K Govindan Nampoothiry.

Over the four-year period (FY15 to FY18), Rs 1.8 crore was spent on training 2,637 neera technicians. The spending on training during 2014-15 was Rs 49.47 lakh, which grew to Rs 98.57 lakh in 2015-16. The next year, the spending declined to Rs 28.84 lakh and then declined further to Rs 3.72 lakh in 2017-18.

The export of coconut products (excluding coir items) during 2019-20 was valued at Rs 1,762 crore against Rs 2,045 crore of FY10. The coconut exports showed a decrease of 13.85% in terms of value during the financial year 2019-20. The major coconut products exported from India are activated carbon, fresh coconut and coconut oil in terms of value.

Indian biologist Shailendra Singh won the Behler Sea Turtle Conservation Award for bringing back three critically endangered protected species of sea turtles from the brink of extinction.

The award has been bestowed with the help of various international bodies concerned in turtle conservation such as /SSC Tortoise and Freshwater Turtle Specialist Group, Turtle Survival Alliance,Turtle Conservancy, and the Turtle Conservation Fund.

As per report, more than half of the world Population are not getting any form of social protection. This trend of no social protection is there even after expansion of social protections amidst the global outbreak of COVID-19.

Only 47 per cent of the global population had effective access to one social protection benefit, in 2020 while 53 per cent (4.1 billion people) had no protection at all.

People in Europe and Central Asia are among the best covered population. 84 per cent of populations in Europe and Central Asia are having access to at least one benefit.

During the session, Prime Minister noted that, India-Russia energy PARTNERSHIP can bring stability in the global energy market. At the same time,International North-South Transport Corridorwill bring both the countries closer.

The plenary session of the Eastern Economic Forum (EEF) was held in Vladivostok.

EEF is an international meet, held annually in Vladivostok in order to encourage foreign investments in the resource-rich but underdeveloped Far East region of Russia. Russia has actively engaged India to invest in this region, following which India had announced a $1-billion line of credit for the Far East during EEF 2019.

Energy is one of the major pillars of India-Russia strategic partnership. Energy partnership between both the countries can help in bringing stability in the global energy market.

Both the countries have also been making a Chennai-Vladivostok maritime corridor. This connectivity project and International North-South (Transport) Corridor will bring both the countries physically closer.

Indias state-run Mazagon Docks Limited (Indias largest shipyards) will partner with Russian ship-building facility at Zvezda in order to build important commercial ships in the world.

Researchers from the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) and Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) have developed device to conduct microbial experiments in outer space.

This modular, self-contained device can be used to cultivate Microorganisms which in turn, enable scientists to carry out biological experiments even in outer space.

This study was published in Acta Astronautica. Researchers showed how this device can be used to activate and track the Growth of a bacterium called Sporosarcina pasteurii for several days with minimal involvement of human.

This understanding of how these microbes behave in extreme environments will provide valuable insights for human space missions like Gaganyaan that is set to be launched in 2022.

Social protection comprises of access to healthcare and income security in cases of Unemployment, old age, inability to work, and for families with children.