Why in the News?

The Centre has decided to deploy National Level Monitors (NLM) to oversee the implementation of its livestock schemes including the National Livestock Mission and Rashtriya Gokul Mission.

About Rashtriya Gokul Mission (RGM):

• The Rashtriya Gokul Mission (RGM) has been implemented for the development and conservation of indigenous bovine breeds since December 2014.
• The scheme is important in enhancing milk production and productivity of bovines to meet the growing demand for milk and making dairying more remunerative to the rural farmers of the country.
• The scheme is also continued under the umbrella scheme Rashtriya Pashudhan Vikas Yojna from 2021 to 2026 with a budget outlay of Rs.2400 crore.
• The RGM will result in enhanced productivity and benefit of the programme, percolating to all cattle and buffaloes of India, especially with small and marginal farmers.
• This programme will also benefit women in particular since over 70% of the work involved in livestock farming is undertaken by women.

Objectives:

• To enhance the productivity of bovines and increase milk production in a sustainable manner using advanced technologies.
• To propagate the use of high genetic merit bulls for breeding purposes.
• To enhance Artificial insemination coverage through strengthening the breeding network and delivery of Artificial insemination services at farmer’s doorstep.
• To promote indigenous cattle & buffalo rearing and conservation in a scientific and holistic manner.

Why in the News?

Recently India-born author Nandini Das is the winner of 2023 British Academy Book Prize for Global Cultural Understanding.

About the British Academy Book Prize:

• The British Academy Book Prize, formerly known as the Nayef Al Rodhan Prize for Global Cultural Understanding, is a prestigious annual award given to the best non-fiction book that, in the opinion of the judges, contributes to global cultural understanding for a wider public audience.
• The prize was established in 2013 in partnership with Professor Nayef Al-Rodhan and is worth £25,000.
• The British Academy is the UK's national academy for the humanities and social sciences, and the prize is one of its most prestigious awards.
• It is a testament to the importance of these disciplines in helping us to understand ourselves and the world around us.
• Eligible books must be non-fiction, and come from the subjects that fall within the humanities and social sciences, from archaeology, history and psychology to philosophy, languages and cultural studies.
• Nandini Das who is a Professor in the English faculty at the University of Oxford, won the award for her book ‘Courting India: England, Mughal India and the Origins of Empire’

Why in the News?

Recently, in the Bargarh area of Odisha's Debrigarh Wildlife Sanctuary, two rare and elusive wild dogs, known as Dholes, have been spotted.

About Debrigarh Wildlife Sanctuary:

• Debrigarh Wildlife Sanctuary is Located between the Hirakud Dam (on the Mahanadi River)  and the Reservoir in Odisha.
• It was declared a wildlife sanctuary in 1985.
• It's also famous because the freedom fighter Veer Surendra Sai used 'Barapathara' within the sanctuary as his base during his struggle against the British.
• It covers an area of 347 square kilometres and is home to a variety of wildlife, including Indian Bison, Wild Boars, Sambhar, and Peacocks.
• The dry deciduous forest attracts many migratory birds during the winter season.
• The sanctuary also houses the endangered four-horned antelope, known as Chousingha.
• Additionally, it's internationally significant due to its notable population of Leopards, Bisons, and Chousingha.

Why in the News?

Recently, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) published the State Food Safety Index in which 15 out of 20 states recorded lower 2023 scores compared to 2019.

About the State Food Safety Index:

• Since 2019, FSSAI has released the State Food Safety Index (SFSI) each year on June 7 on the occasion of World Food Safety Day.
• SFSI scores are given out of a total of 100 points that are calculated based on five parameters with different weightages:
• Human Resources and Institutional Data
• Compliance
• Food Testing Infrastructure
• Training and Capacity Building
• Consumer Empowerment.
• In the 2023 index, a new parameter called ‘Improvement in SFSI Rank’ was added, which assesses improvement in each state’s rank from the year before.
• The primary goal of this index is to ensure that citizens have access to safe and nutritious food.
• This index is a dynamic and comprehensive system that offers an objective way to assess food safety across all states and UTs.
• States and UTs are categorized into three groups: large states, small states, and UTs, for evaluation and comparison.

Key findings from the report:

• 19 out of 20 large states — including Maharashtra, Bihar, Gujarat and Andhra Pradesh — recorded a drop in their 2023 scores from 2019.
• The most substantial drop was observed in the 'Food Testing Infrastructure' category, with states like Maharashtra, Bihar, Andhra Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh receiving lower scores in this aspect.
• Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, and Jharkhand also had reduced scores in the 'Compliance' category.
• In the 2023 index, the 'Human Resources and Institutional Data' category was given the third-highest importance, accounting for 18% of the evaluation (it was 20% in previous years).
• The only category that showed notable improvement was 'Training and Capacity Building,' which was given the least importance, 8%, in the 2023 index (compared to 10% in previous years).

Why in the News?

Imperial College London recently announced a new scholarship programme for Indian students that aims to nurture the country’s most talented Master’s scholars over the next three years.

About the Future Leaders Scholarship Programme:

• Imperial College London unveils the Future Leaders Scholarship Programme for Indian students.
• It aims to support 30 highly talented Master's students in India for the next three years.
• This scholarship will cover all tuition and living expenses.
• It is available for Master's students in fields such as engineering, natural sciences, business, and medical research.
• Notably, half of the scholarships are set aside for female scholars.
• The program creates an opportunity for India's brightest students to further their education and gain valuable experiences at a top international university.
• In addition to this scholarship, the university has partnered with the UK government's Chevening Scholarships programme to sponsor an extra three Master's scholars from India in the next three years.