18.05.21 Daily [Assam] APSC Current Affairs

Assamhas received 1 lakh more Covishield doses, taking the total vaccine availability in the state to 3.25 lakh doses, ahead of the inoculation drive for the 18-44 age group set to begin at 26 Covidvaccination centresin greater Guwahati.

Health officials said in every district headquarters a minimum of 10, in the civil sub-divisions five, and in small towns, one or twoCovid Vaccination Centresare targeted to be opened to vaccinate the 18-44 age group in the state. But, considering the shortage of Vaccines, the districts have not been able to open the vaccination centres as planned.

A Himsagar mango from Bengal may land on a plate in South Korea, or a Zardalu could reachMauritius. India, the worlds largest mango producer, is looking to diversify its basket forexportsand will push varieties from North India, while also resuming shipments to the US.

There is also an effort to diversify the markets beyond the strongholds of theUAE, the EU and Nepal, with Japan, South Korea, Australia and Mauritius also on the radar. Although India is the largest producer, Mexico and evenPakistancommand a higher share of the export market, which India is trying to capture. While domestic consumption as well as high sugar content, especially in the north Indian varieties is seen as the factors for low exports, there are issues related to standards too.

TheNational Green Tribunal(NGT) has directed the Centre to constitute an eight-member national task force to monitor remedial steps to improve the status of air quality in 124 non-attainment cities (NACs) across the country.

The national task force (NTF) will also monitor enforcement of air quality standards in other identified air polluted areas, beyond NACs, where air quality is poor. The 124 NACs are those which did not meet the national ambient air quality standards during 2014-19.

In 2018, the tribunal also asked the NTF to see whether a National Air Quality Atlas may be created by classifying cities or districts in terms of air quality in different categories such as red, orange and green for taking prioritised pollution abatement measures.

TheUnion cabineton Wednesdayapprovedthere-promulgationofordinanceonair quality managementinNational Capital Region(NCR) and adjoining areas spread over four states Haryana,Punjab,RajasthanandUttar Pradesh with important changes that seek to assuage farm unions opposed to the new <a href="https://exam.pscnotes.com/Agriculture-notes-for-state-psc-exams”>Agriculture laws.

The ordinance, promulgated initially in October 2020, lapsed last month as the Centre could not bring the required bill to replace it due to curtailment of the budget session.

The CAQM will have power to strictly enforce mitigation measures under enhanced penalty provisions, better coordination, and through research, identification and resolution of problems surrounding air quality index of the region referred as an airshed.