Why is it in the News?

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, presenting the interim budget on (February 1), announced the expansion of the application of Nano DAP on various crops in all agro-climatic zones.

What is DAP?

• Di-ammonium Phosphate (DAP) is a fertilizer containing phosphorus and nitrogen, crucial nutrients for plant growth.
• Its chemical formula is (NH?)?HPO?. DAP is widely utilized in agriculture to offer plants a quick and easily accessible nutrient source.
• It ranks as the second most utilized fertilizer in India, following urea. Notably, DAP is rich in phosphorus (P), which plays a vital role in promoting root establishment and development.
• Application of DAP is typically done just before or at the time of sowing to ensure optimal plant growth and development.

What is Nano DAP?

• Nano DAP is an innovative liquid fertilizer formulation comprising nanoparticles of Diammonium Phosphate (DAP).
• Serving as a rich source of nitrogen and phosphorus, the two primary nutrients crucial for crop growth, Nano DAP offers unique advantages.
• Its small particle size, measuring less than 100 nm, coupled with a high surface area, facilitates easy absorption by plant leaves.
• This novel nano-formulation contributes to enhanced crop growth and yield, decreased environmental impact, and improved profitability for farmers.

Why Nano DAP?

• In addition to being more efficient than conventional DAP, Nano DAP has a few other benefits.
• First, it is more pocket-friendly than its conventional counterpart.
  • A 500 ml bottle of Nano DAP, equivalent to a 50-kg bag of conventional DAP, is priced at only Rs 600 (compared to Rs 1,350 for the bag).
• Since the government provides significant subsidies on DAP, the adoption of a more inexpensive fertiliser will likely be a significant relief to the government’s subsidy burden.
• Second, for farmers, Nano DAP is also significantly more convenient.
  • Simply put, 500 ml bottles are easier to transport, store, and use than 50kg bags.
  • The fertiliser is sprayed on crops, with 250-500 ml of DAP, dissolved in water, required per spray, per acre.
• Most importantly, however, India currently imports significant quantities of fertiliser to meet domestic demand.
• The adoption of domestically-produced Nano DAP — produced in Kalol, Gujarat — is set to significantly reduce this import burden.
• This revolutionary step will not only take Indian agriculture forward in foodgrain production but it will also make India self-reliant in fertiliser production.
• The adoption of Nano DAP will help in achieving self-sufficiency in fertilisers and greatly benefit our farmers.

Why is it in the News?

In a significant development that underscores the deepening strategic partnership between India and the United States, the US State Department has approved a landmark Foreign Military Sale to the Indian government.

News Summary:

• The US Defense Security Cooperation Agency has formally notified the US Congress regarding a potential military sale of MQ-9B SkyGuardian drones and associated equipment to the Government of India.

What is a Drone?

• Drones are aerial vehicles powered by various means, capable of autonomous flight or remote piloting, and can carry payloads, lethal or nonlethal, depending on the mission.

Key Features of MQ-9B SkyGuardian Drones:

• Designed for extended over-the-horizon flights lasting over 30 hours, facilitated by satellite connectivity.
• Incorporates advanced capabilities to safely operate in civilian airspace, facilitating joint operations with civil authorities for real-time situational awareness.
• Equipped with sophisticated maritime intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) systems, enabling real-time monitoring and patrolling both above and below the ocean's surface.

Significance of Drone Technology in Defense:

• Strategic Importance: Drones offer valuable intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities, providing real-time visuals and data to support decision-making processes.
  • They also reduce risks to personnel and offer cost-effective alternatives to conventional manned aircraft.
• Tactical Advantages: Drones enable precision strikes with minimal collateral damage, enhance coordination and logistics in challenging terrains, and facilitate operations in remote or hostile environments.

Challenges Associated with Drones:

• Complex Airspace Management: The integration of drones into India's airspace necessitates a robust management framework to ensure safe and efficient operations.
• Adverse Weather Conditions: Factors like strong winds can affect drone operations, highlighting the need for resilient systems capable of operating in varied environmental conditions.
• Privacy and Safety Concerns: There are concerns regarding the potential misuse of drones for breaching privacy and safety regulations, emphasizing the importance of stringent regulations and oversight mechanisms.

Why is it in the News?

The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi approved the continuation of the Animal Husbandry Infrastructure Development Fund (AHIDF) to be implemented under the Infrastructure Development Fund (IDF) with an outlay of Rs.29,610.25 crore for another three years up to 2025-26.

About the Animal Husbandry Infrastructure Development Fund:

• This initiative operates as a Central Sector Scheme aimed at incentivizing investments from various entities, including individual entrepreneurs, private companies, MSMEs, Farmer’s Producers Organizations (FPOs), and Section 8 companies.
• These investments are directed towards establishing infrastructure for:
  • Dairy processing and value addition
  • Meat processing and value addition
  • Animal feed plants

Objectives:

• Facilitating the expansion of milk and meat processing capacity and diversification of products, thereby granting unorganized rural milk and meat producers greater access to organized markets.
• Enhancing price realization for producers and ensuring the availability of quality milk and meat products for domestic consumers.
• Promoting exports and elevating the sector's contribution to export revenue.
• Providing quality concentrated animal feed to cattle, buffalo, sheep, goat, pig, and poultry, ensuring balanced rations at affordable prices.
• The Government of India offers a 3% interest subvention for a period of 8 years, including a two-year moratorium, for loans covering up to 90% of the investment.
  • These loans are accessible from scheduled banks, the National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC), NABARD, and NDDB.
  • Notably, government entities and cooperatives are excluded from availing benefits under this scheme.

What is Animal Husbandry?

• Animal husbandry encompasses the controlled cultivation, management, and production of domestic animals, with a focus on enhancing desirable qualities through breeding.
• It serves as a vital branch of agriculture dedicated to animals raised for various purposes such as meat, fibre, milk, and other products.
• This involves day-to-day care, selective breeding, and the overall management of livestock.
• In India, animal husbandry plays a crucial role in the livelihoods of many farmers, offering significant self-employment opportunities, particularly for landless labourers, small and marginal farmers, and women.
• The sector contributes to providing affordable and nutritious food to millions of Indians through the production of meat, eggs, milk, and other essential items.
• Additionally, it serves as a valuable source of raw materials such as hides, skins, bones, blood, and fat.
• Animals are often regarded as the best insurance against natural calamities like drought, famine, and other adversities, providing a degree of stability to farmers in unpredictable conditions.

Why is it in the News?

The Karnataka government recently said it would launch a 'Digital Detox' initiative in collaboration with the All India Game Developers Forum (AIGDF), with special emphasis on gaming and social media.

What is Digital Detox?

• A digital detox entails voluntarily refraining from using digital devices like smartphones, computers, and social media platforms for a defined period.
• This period can range from a few hours to as long as a week or even a month.
• Research indicates that approximately 25% of smartphone owners aged 18 to 44 cannot recall the last time they were separated from their phones.

Benefits:

• Overcoming Technology Addiction: Studies reveal that around 61% of individuals acknowledge their addiction to the internet and digital screens.
  • A digital detox aids in combating this addiction.
• Enhanced Mental Health: Disconnecting from technology can alleviate stress and anxiety, thereby fostering improved mental health and overall well-being.
• Increased Productivity and Creativity: Taking a break from continuous digital engagement bolsters focus and concentration, leading to heightened productivity and creativity.
• Improved Sleep: Excessive screen time has been linked to poor sleep quality. A digital detox helps in promoting better sleep by reducing exposure to blue light and stimulating content.
• Enhanced Communication Skills: Reducing online time allows for more face-to-face interactions, nurturing better communication skills and social connections.

Challenges:

• Feelings of Disconnection: Detox participants may feel disconnected from friends and family members.
• Fear of Missing Out: Participants may experience FOMO (fear of missing out) or anxiety about missing important information.
• Boredom or Restlessness: Detoxes may lead to feelings of boredom or restlessness.
• Withdrawal Symptoms: Some individuals may experience withdrawal symptoms such as anxiety or boredom.

Way forward:

• Start Small: Initiate the detox with shorter periods and gradually extend the duration.
• Inform Others: Notify friends and family about the detox to avoid misinterpretations.
• Engage in Healthy Activities: Utilize detox time for activities like reading, spending time outdoors, or exercising.
• Minimize Notifications: Turn off device notifications and store them out of sight.
• Reward Progress: Offer yourself incentives for achieving detox goals.

Conclusion

Digital dependence can contribute to mental health issues, shorter attention spans, and strained interpersonal relationships. While technology offers convenience and connectivity, excessive screen time exacts a toll. A digital detox presents an opportunity to enhance mental and physical well-being, as well as nurture healthier relationships. With proper planning and commitment, a successful and fulfilling detox experience is achievable.

Why is it in the News?

The government’s aim to restrict the fiscal deficit to 5.8 per cent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) as against 5.9 per cent budgeted earlier for the financial year and the push to restrict the fiscal deficit target to below 4.5 per cent by 2025-26 rides on the back of a strong buoyancy in tax revenues.

What is Tax Buoyancy?

• Tax buoyancy elucidates the correlation between fluctuations in government tax revenue growth and changes in Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
• This concept underscores the intrinsic link between the government's tax earnings and economic expansion.
• Essentially, as the economy accelerates, government tax revenue experiences a corresponding increase.
• Tax buoyancy delineates the responsiveness of tax revenue growth to alterations in GDP, signifying its sensitivity to economic fluctuations.
• A buoyant tax exhibits a revenue surge without necessitating a rise in tax rates, contingent upon factors such as the tax base's magnitude, tax administration efficiency, and the simplicity and rationality of tax structures.
• Typically, direct taxes demonstrate higher buoyancy, being more responsive to GDP growth rates.

What is Tax Elasticity?

• Tax elasticity, akin to tax buoyancy, refers to variations in tax revenue consequent to changes in tax rates.
  • For instance, assessing how tax revenue fluctuates when the government reduces corporate income tax from 30 percent to 25 percent illustrates tax elasticity.
• This concept underscores the dynamic relationship between tax rates and revenue generation, reflecting the degree of responsiveness of tax revenue to alterations in tax rates.

About the Laffer Curve:

• The Laffer Curve, pioneered by economist Arthur Laffer in 1974, illustrates the interplay between tax rates and government tax revenue collection.
• This economic theory posits that tax rates exceeding a certain threshold diminish tax revenue by disincentivizing workforce participation.
• It suggests the existence of an optimal tax rate that maximizes total tax revenue.
• By visually depicting the inverse relationship between tax rates and tax revenue, the Laffer Curve highlights the complexities of tax policy and the importance of balancing tax rates to achieve revenue optimization.