Today's Brief 18/02/2025

IE Analysis:https://youtu.be/J5DDe2TAzs4?si=exK-QxTkGDs_b0v5

JS Analysis:https://youtu.be/6pQ-2cxj-9s?si=bI8apTvawaynZbz5

1 .Gulfood 2025 (General Studies-III (250 marks)Technology, Economic Development, Biodiversity, Environment, Security, and Disaster Management) is scheduled to take place from February 17th to 21st at the Dubai World Trade Centre. It's one of the world's largest annual food and beverage exhibitions, featuring thousands of exhibitors from around the globe.

this marks the 29th edition of the event, which has been running since 1987.

2 .PM-AASHA:(GS Paper II: Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice and International Relations)stands for Pradhan Mantri Annadata Aay Sanrakshan Abhiyan. It's a comprehensive scheme launched by the Indian government in 2018 to ensure farmers receive remunerative prices for their produce.

Objective: The core goal is to protect farmers' income by ensuring they get at least the Minimum Support Price (MSP) for their crops. This helps to stabilize agricultural markets and encourage farmers to continue production.

PM-AASHA is an umbrella scheme with three main components:

• Price Support Scheme (PSS):  Government agencies directly procure crops like pulses, oilseeds, and copra at the MSP from farmers.

• Price Deficiency Payment Scheme (PDPS): Instead of physically buying the crops, the government pays farmers the difference between the MSP and the market price. This is particularly useful for perishable goods.

• Private Procurement & Stockist Scheme (PPSS): This encourages private players to participate in crop procurement, further boosting market competition and ensuring better prices for farmers.

• Implementation: States have the flexibility to choose which component of PM-AASHA they want to implement based on their specific needs and the crops grown in their region.

• Significance: PM-AASHA is a crucial step towards addressing the challenges faced by Indian farmers, such as price fluctuations and market volatility. By ensuring a stable income, it aims to improve their livelihoods and promote sustainable agriculture.

  
  

Essentially, PM-AASHA is a safety net for farmers, designed to provide them with a fair price for their hard work and contribute to the overall growth of the agricultural sector in India.

3 .Prime Minister’s Yoga Awards: (GS Paper II: Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice and International Relations) are prestigious awards given by the Indian government to recognize individuals and organizations that have made significant contributions to the promotion and development of Yoga, both nationally and internationally.

These awards were established to honor the profound impact of Yoga on society, with a focus on its role in disease prevention, health promotion, and the management of lifestyle-related disorders.

• Categories: The awards are presented in four categories:

  • National Individual

  • National Organization

  • International Individual

  • International Organization

    
    

• Eligibility: Individuals applying for the National Individual category must be 40 years or older and have at least 20 years of dedicated service in Yoga promotion.

  
  

• Award: Winners in each category receive a trophy, certificate, and a cash award of Rs. 25 lakh.

3 .Aadi Mahotsav 2025:(GS Paper II: Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice and International Relations)the flagship initiative of the Tribal Co-operative Marketing Development Federation of India Limited (TRIFED) under the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, was inaugurated today by Hon'ble President of India, Smt. Droupadi Murmu, at Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium, New Delhi.

TRIFED stands for the Tribal Co-operative Marketing Development Federation of India. It's a national-level organization under the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, Government of India

Organised from February 16 to 24, 2025, this vibrant festival celebrates India’s rich tribal heritage, culture, arts, crafts, cuisine, and commerce.

Aadi Mahotsav 2025 brings together:

• 600+ tribal artisans from 30+ States and Union Territories.

• 500 performing artists showcasing mesmerizing tribal dance forms.

• 25 tribal food stalls presenting indigenous cuisines from different regions.

The inaugural ceremony featured captivating performances by Tribal artists that included: Chhau Dance (Jharkhand), Kalbelia Dance (Rajasthan), Gaur Mariya Dance (Chhattisgarh), Siddhi Dhamal Dance (Gujarat), Angi Ger Dance (Rajasthan).

4 .EXERCISE KOMODO:(General Studies-III (250 marks)Technology, Economic Development, Biodiversity, Environment, Security, and Disaster Management)

The Multilateral Naval Exercise Komodo (MNEK) 2025 is a week-long international naval exercise hosted by the Indonesian Navy. The exercise, named after the Komodo dragon, a symbol of Indonesia's unique biodiversity, aims to enhance maritime cooperation, strengthen regional security, and promote interoperability among participating navies.

MNEK typically involves a wide range of activities, including humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR) drills, maritime search and rescue (SAR) operations, and tactical naval maneuvers.

5 .India successfully sends first-ever sea shipments of pomegranates to Australia (GS Paper II: Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice and International Relations) APEDA facilitated the export of Sangola and Bhagwa varieties, following an initial air shipment in July 2024.

The sea shipments, arriving in Sydney and Brisbane in January 2025, were well-received and are expected to boost trade between the two countries. This success highlights India's growing agricultural export capabilities and the increasing demand for Indian produce.

6 .India, Japan: (GS Paper II: Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice and International Relations) The Indian Army will conduct the sixth edition of the joint military exercise Dharma Guardian with Japan at Mount Fuji in Japan from February 25 to March 9, 2025.

Mount Fuji, an iconic symbol of Japan, is a majestic stratovolcano and the country's highest peak, reaching 3,776 meters (12,389 feet). Its perfectly conical shape, a result of repeated volcanic eruptions, and often snow-capped summit make it a visually striking landmark.

Revered as a sacred mountain for centuries, Mount Fuji embodies deep spiritual significance in Japanese culture and has inspired countless artists and writers. .

Designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2013, Mount Fuji, located on the island of Honshu about 100 kilometers (62 miles) southwest of Tokyo, continues to be a powerful symbol of Japan's natural beauty and rich cultural heritage.

7.8th Indian Ocean Conference .Muscat, Oman:(GS Paper II: Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice and International Relations)

  started by India Foundation in 2016 at Singapore, with participation from 30 countries. In the last 8 years, the Conference has emerged as the flagship consultative forum for countries in the region over regional affairs.

The Conference endeavours to bring critical states and principal maritime partners of the region together on a common platform to deliberate upon the prospects of regional cooperation for Security and Growth for All in the Region (SAGAR).

Security and Growth for All in the Region (SAGAR) is India's vision for the Indian Ocean region. It was launched in 2015 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. 

SAGAR is a comprehensive framework that seeks to promote peace, stability, and prosperity in the Indian Ocean region through cooperation and collaboration with other countries.   

8.The MSK device is a device that is used to measure the intensity of an earthquake. It is a macroseismic intensity scale that was developed in 1964 by Sergei Medvedev, Wilhelm Sponheuer, and Vit Karnik.

The MSK scale is used to measure the intensity of an earthquake based on the observed effects of the earthquake on people, buildings, and the environment.

The MSK scale has 12 levels of intensity, ranging from I (not felt) to XII (total destruction).

The intensity of an earthquake is determined by the amount of damage that is caused by the earthquake.

The MSK scale is used in many countries around the world, including India, Russia, and Israel.

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