ENLIGHTENED MINDS_Inspiring Excellence

1.Discuss the major soils of India. Critically evaluate the role of the Soil Health Card in the context of the changing pattern of cultivation.(250 words/15 Marks) 1. Introduce the importance of soil and fertility in India. (50 words) 2. Elaborate the major soils in India. (100 words) 3. Explain the role of the Soil Health Card. (50 words) 4. Write a brief conclusion stating its benefits and uses. (50 words)   Soil is the most important layer of the earth’s crust. It is a valuable resource. The bulk of our food and much of our clothing is derived from land-based crops that grow in the soil. The soil on which we depend so much for our day-to-day needs has evolved over thousands of years. Soil Health Card has a  key role to enhance the land use and better crop pattern in the region.   India has varied relief features, landforms, climatic realms and vegetation types. These have contributed to the development of major soils in India, which are:                                      

Public Distribution System in India Public Distribution System (PDS) is a  food Security System  established  under the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food, and Public Distribution  by the govt. of India         PDS is public rationing system of India. India’s Public Distribution System (PDS) is the largest distribution network of its kind in the world. PDS was introduced around World War II as a war-time rationing measure. In 1960s due to food insecurity, the government set up the Agriculture Prices Commission and the Food Corporation of India to improve domestic procurement and storage of food grains for PDS. By the 1970s, PDS had evolved into a universal scheme for the distribution of subsidised food. In 1997, the government launched the Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS), with a focus on the poor. TPDS aims to provide subsidised food and fuel to the poor through a network of ration shops. Food grains such as rice and wheat that are provided under TPDS are procured

                                                          POLAR VORTEX                            What is Polar Vortex? It is described as  a whirling cone of low pressure over the poles that is strongest in the winter months  due to the increased temperature contrast between the polar regions and the mid-latitudes, such as the US and Europe. The polar vortex spins in the stratosphere , a layer of the atmosphere 10-48 km above the ground and above the troposphere, where most familiar weather patterns develop.                     STRONG & WEAK POLAR VORTEX Often when the  polar vortex is strong, temperatures are mild in the mid-latitudes across the Eastern  US and Northern Eurasia; and when the vortex is weak, temperatures tend to be cold across the   Eastern US and northern Europe and Asia.    Strong Polar Vortex A strong polar vortex is the more common state of the vortex which creates strong   low pressure  in the Arctic region. Because of the pressure difference between the A

e-NAM e-NAM  was an innovative initiative  in agricultural marketing to enhance farmers accessibility digitally to multiple number of markets & buyers and to bring transparency in trade transactions with the intent to improve price discovery mechanism, quality commensurate price realization and also to develop the concept of One Nation One Market for agriculture produce. Keeping in view the need of making marketing of commodities easier for farmers, e-NAM was envisioned and launched by Prime Minster in 21 mandis on 14th April, 2016 which has now reached 585 mandis across 16 States and 02 UTs. e-NAM is being expanded to cover additional 415 mandis which will take the total number of e-NAM mandis to 1000 soon. This online platform will prove to be a giant leap in reforming the agriculture market in India. We have more than 1.66 crore farmers and 1.28 Lakh traders registered on e-NAM platform. Farmers are free to register on e-NAM portal and they are uploading their produce for sale o

UN REPORT: CLIMATE CHANGE & DISEASE TRANSMISSION, ZOONOTIC The United Nation Environment Program (UNEP) and the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) report says: Climate change can particularly affect diseases transmitted by insects. 75 per cent of all emerging infectious diseases are zoonotic. Details of Climate Change and Transmission of Diseases Warmer temperatures can increase the vector population size and distribution, along with the season duration when infectious vector species are present in the environment. Erratic weather events have an impact in the transmission of diseases as well. For examples: in Africa, an outbreak of Rift Valley fever, a mosquito-borne zoonotic disease, occurred with higher than average seasonal rainfall. The thawing of permafrost in the Arctic and sub-arctic region can significantly transforms soil structures, vegetation and habitats. The thawing of permafrost in the Arctic and sub-arctic region can significantly transforms soil struc