Why is it in the News?

As part of Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan, the Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI) is implementing a centrally sponsored "PM Formalisation of Micro food processing Enterprises (PMFME) Scheme" for providing financial, technical and business support for setting up / upgradation of micro food processing enterprises in the country.

About PM Formalisation of Micro food Processing Enterprises (PMFME) Scheme:

• Launched on 29th June 2020, PMFMPE is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme by the Ministry of Food Processing Industries.
• It is designed to address the challenges faced by the micro-enterprises and to tap the potential of groups and cooperatives in supporting the upgradation and formalization of these enterprises.
• Aims:
  • Enhance the competitiveness of existing individual micro-enterprises in the unorganized segment of the food processing industry and promote formalization of the sector; and
  • Support Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs), Self Help Groups (SHGs), and Producers Cooperatives along their entire value chain.
• Objectives:  To build the capability of microenterprises to enable:
  • Increased access to credit by existing micro food processing entrepreneurs, FPOs, Self Help Groups, and Co-operatives.
  • Integration with an organized supply chain by strengthening branding & marketing.
  • Support for the transition of existing 2,00,000 enterprises into a formal framework.
  • Increased access to common services like common processing facilities, laboratories, storage, packaging, marketing, and incubation services.
  • Strengthening of institutions, research, and training in the food processing sector; and
  • Increased access for the enterprises, to professional and technical support.
• Outlay:
  • The scheme envisages an outlay of ? 10,000 crores over a period of five years from 2020-21 to 2024-25.
  • The expenditure under the scheme would be shared in a 60:40 ratio between Central and State Governments, in a 90:10 ratio with the North
  • In Eastern and the Himalayan States, a 60:40 ratio with UTs with the legislature and 100% by the Center for other UTs.
• Coverage:
  • Under the scheme, 2,00,000 micro food processing units will be directly assisted with credit-linked subsidies.
  • Adequate supportive common infrastructure and institutional architecture will be supported to accelerate the growth of the sector.

Why is it in the News?

The Supreme Court on Thursday asked the Centre and Assam government to provide details on the “estimated inflow of illegal migrants” to Assam and other Northeastern states after March 25, 1971, and the status of border fencing.

News Summary:

• During the hearing of petitions, a five-judge bench of the Supreme Court expressed concerns about the perceived 'unlimited influx' of illegal migrants from Bangladesh, impacting demographics and straining resources for Indian citizens.
• The court questioned the application of Section 6A, granting Indian citizenship benefits to illegal migrants, solely in Assam and not in West Bengal, which shares a larger border with Bangladesh.
• The Supreme Court directed the Home Secretary to submit an affidavit by May 11, 2023, detailing the estimated inflow of illegal migrants, steps taken to address illegal immigration, and specifics on border-fencing extent and timelines.
• The government was also instructed to provide information on illegal immigration along the West Bengal border post on March 25, 1971.

Why Section 6A of the Citizenship Act, 1955 is Under Challenge?

• Presently, a Supreme Court bench is reviewing petitions from indigenous Assamese groups challenging Section 6A of the Citizenship Act.
• These groups assert that the special provision serves as a 'beacon' for illegal entrants to settle in Assam, gain Indian citizenship, and subsequently deprive locals of political, and economic rights, jeopardizing Assamese cultural identity.
• The petitioners question the constitutional validity of Section 6A, claiming it is arbitrary, specifically singles out Assam, violates Article 14, and has led to an influx of illegal migrants from Bangladesh.
• They advocate for establishing 1951 as the cutoff date for inclusion in the National Register of Citizens instead of 1971.
• The primary petitioner, Assam Sanmilita Mahasangha (ASM), argues that Section 6A is discriminatory, arbitrary, illegal, and infringes upon the rights of indigenous Assamese people by establishing a different citizenship cutoff date for Assam compared to the rest of India (July 1948).

What are the Arguments of the Central Government?

• The central government refutes the accusation of unfairly burdening the state with the responsibility of handling illegal migrants, contending that different states of India can be classified differently based on historical and geographical factors.
• According to the government, the classification implied in Section 6-A is founded on intelligible differentia.
• Dismissing claims of arbitrariness, the Centre asserts that the guarantee against non-arbitrariness under Article 14 does not mandate universal application for every law, irrespective of dissimilarity or the nature of the individuals it pertains to.

Why is it in the News?

The National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) on behalf of River Cities Alliance (RCA), has signed a Memorandum of Common Purpose (MoCP) with the Mississippi River Cities and Towns Initiative (MRCTI), representing 124 cities/towns situated along the banks of the Mississippi River, USA.

What is River Cities Alliance (RCA)?

• The River Cities Alliance (RCA) is a joint initiative of the Department of Water Resources, River Development & Ganga Rejuvenation under the Ministry of Jal Shakti (MoJS) & the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA), with a vision to connect river cities and focus on sustainable river centric development.
• Beginning with 30 member cities in November 2021, the Alliance has expanded to 109 river cities across India and one international member city from Denmark.
  • 30 cities include Dehradun, Rishikesh, Haridwar, Srinagar, Varanasi, Kanpur, Prayagraj, Farrukhabad, Mirzapur, Mathura, Bijnor, Ayodhya, Patna, Bhagalpur, Begusarai, Munger, Sahibganj, Rajmahal, Howrah, Jangipur, Hugli-Chinsurah, Berhampore, Maheshtala, Aurangabad, Chennai, Bhubaneshwar, Hyderabad, Pune, Udaipur and Vijayawada.
• The Alliance is open to all river cities of India. Any river city can join the Alliance at any time.
• Objective: To provide the member cities with a platform to discuss and exchange information on aspects that are vital for sustainable management of urban rivers, sharing best practices and supporting innovation.
• It focuses on three broad themes- Networking, Capacity Building and Technical Support.
• The Secretariat of the Alliance is set up at the National Institute for Urban Affairs (NIUA) Delhi.

About the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG):

• The Ministry of Jal Shakti, Government of India, established the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) as a registered society to take proactive measures for preventing, controlling, and abating environmental pollution in the Ganga River.
  • Its mission includes ensuring a continuous and adequate flow of water to rejuvenate the river.
  • Initially serving as the implementation arm of the dissolved National Ganga River Basin Authority (NGRBA), NMCG aims to achieve effective pollution abatement and river rejuvenation through a river basin approach, promoting inter-sectoral coordination and environmentally sustainable development.
• Post the dissolution of NGRBA in 2016, NMCG continues its objectives through the National Council for Rejuvenation, Protection, and Management of River Ganga, also known as the National Ganga Council.
  • The mission focuses on maintaining minimum ecological flows in the Ganga to ensure water quality and sustainable development.
• Structure: NMCG follows a two-tier management structure comprising the Governing Council and the Executive Committee, both led by the Director General.
  • The Executive Committee holds the authority to approve projects up to Rs. 1000 crores.
  • At the state level, State Programme Management Groups (SPMGs) serve as the implementing arms of State Ganga Committees.
  • The Director General of NMCG holds the position of Additional Secretary in the Government of India.

Why is it in the News?

A total of twenty critical mineral blocks are currently open for commercial bidding by private entities. The auction process commenced on November 29, and interested parties have the opportunity to submit bids until January 22 of the following year.

What are Critical Minerals?

• A mineral attains critical status when there is a relatively higher risk of supply shortage and its impact on the economy compared to other raw materials.
• These minerals play a pivotal role in economic development and national security, and their scarcity, concentration in specific geographic locations, or limited extraction/processing options may pose potential vulnerabilities in the supply chain.
• Critical minerals, including lithium, graphite, cobalt, titanium, and rare earth elements, are indispensable for advancements in various sectors such as high-tech electronics, telecommunications, transport, and defense.
• They are integral to strategic value chains, including initiatives for clean technologies (e.g., zero-emission vehicles, wind turbines, solar panels), information and communication technologies (e.g., semiconductors), and advanced manufacturing inputs and materials (e.g., defense applications, permanent magnets, ceramics).

What are the Estimated Reserves of Key Critical Minerals in these Blocks?

• J&K Block: In the J&K block, there is an inferred reserve of 5.9 million tonnes of bauxite, containing over 3,400 tonnes of lithium metal content.
  • Additionally, this block boasts more than 70,000 tonnes of titanium metal content.
• Odisha Block: In the Odisha block, the National Institute of Transforming India (NITI) estimates an inferred value of 2.05 million tonnes of nickel ore, equivalent to 3,908 tonnes of nickel metal content.
• Chhattisgarh Block: While the Chhattisgarh block contains lithium and rare earth elements (REEs), no drilling has been conducted to assess total reserves as of yet.
• Other Blocks: Nickel ore reserves have been identified in three blocks, situated in Bihar, Gujarat, and Odisha.
  • However, drilling has not been carried out for the Bihar and Gujarat blocks.

How does India presently source these minerals?

• In the fiscal year 2022-23, India imported 2,145 tonnes of lithium carbonate and lithium oxide.
  • Lithium carbonate, containing up to 19% lithium, and lithium oxide, typically converted to lithium hydroxide and containing 29% lithium, were part of the imports.
• Additionally, India imported 32,000 tonnes of unwrought nickel and 1.2 million tonnes of copper ore during the same period.
  • Notably, India is entirely dependent on imports for its lithium and nickel demand, while for copper, this reliance stands at 93%.

Recent Initiatives by the Indian Government to Boost the Critical Minerals Sector:

• Identification of 30 Critical Minerals: In July 2023, the Indian government released a list of 30 critical minerals, including Antimony, Beryllium, Bismuth, Cobalt, Copper, Gallium, Germanium, Graphite, Hafnium, Indium, Lithium, Molybdenum, Niobium, Nickel, PGE, Phosphorous, Potash, REE, Rhenium, Silicon, Strontium, Tantalum, Tellurium, Tin, Titanium, Tungsten, Vanadium, Zirconium, Selenium, and Cadmium.
• Mining Permissions: The government amended a key law, allowing for the mining of three critical minerals – lithium, niobium, and REEs.
  • New royalty rates for critical minerals, aligning with global benchmarks, were specified to attract bidders.
• Geological Survey of India's Exploration: The Geological Survey of India initiated 125 projects in the current fiscal to explore critical mineral reserves.
  • Notably, it estimated 5.9 million tonnes of lithium ore in the Salal-Haimna areas (Reasi district, J&K).
  • In the preceding eight fiscal years, a total of 625 mineral exploration projects were undertaken.
• Centre of Excellence for Critical Minerals: The Committee on Identification of Critical Minerals recommended establishing a Centre of Excellence for Critical Minerals to formulate policies and incentives for creating a comprehensive value chain of critical minerals in the country.
• Khanij Bidesh India Ltd. (KABIL): A joint venture company, Khanij Bidesh India Ltd. (KABIL), is mandated to identify and acquire overseas mineral assets of a critical and strategic nature, such as lithium and cobalt, to ensure a secure supply.
• Mineral Security Partnership (MSP): India joined the US-led Mineral Security Partnership (MSP), a collaboration of 14 countries aiming to catalyze public and private investment in critical mineral supply chains globally.

Why is it in the News?

Earlier this year, a South Korean laboratory unveiled a significant advancement that holds promise as a potential solution to the energy crisis.

What is Google DeepMind's Project?

• Google has introduced the Graph Networks for Materials Exploration (GNoME), an AI tool developed by DeepMind.
• Leveraging Artificial Intelligence, GNoME successfully predicted the structures of over 2 million new materials.
• The potential applications span diverse sectors, including renewable energy, battery research, semiconductor design, and enhanced computing efficiency.

How does GNoME operate?

• GNoME functions as an advanced graph neural network model (GNN), where input data takes the form of a graph resembling connections between atoms.
• The model employs 'active learning,' initially training on a small specialized dataset and later incorporating new targets for machine learning with human assistance.
• This adaptability suits the algorithm well for material discovery, as it involves identifying patterns not present in the original dataset.

Operational Mechanism of GNoME:

• GNoME employs two pipelines for discovering stable materials with low energy.
  • The structural pipeline generates candidates with structures akin to known crystals, while the compositional pipeline follows a more randomized approach based on chemical formulas.
• Outputs from both pipelines undergo evaluation using established Density Functional Theory calculations, contributing to the GNoME database and guiding subsequent rounds of active learning.
  • Consequently, the model has significantly improved its precision rate for predicting material stability, reaching around 80%, up from an initial 50%.
• DeepMind's research, encompassing 380,000 stable predictions, is equivalent to nearly 800 years of knowledge, facilitating further breakthroughs in materials discovery for researchers.

What is the Significance of GNoME?

• This breakthrough in artificial intelligence dramatically expands the inventory of 'stable materials,' multiplying it by tenfold in a single stride.
• These materials encompass inorganic crystals crucial for a spectrum of modern technologies, from computer chips to batteries.
• Stability is paramount for these crystals, as any instability could lead to decomposition.
• While the synthesized and tested processes still lie ahead, DeepMind has shared a curated list of 381,000 crystal structures from the predicted 2.2 million, offering a promising foundation for advancing new technologies.
• In comparison, human experimentation over the last decades has revealed the structures of around 28,000 stable materials, catalogued in the Inorganic Crystal Structures Database, representing a noteworthy advancement in material discovery.