Today's Brief 2/08/2024
- Smriti IASxp
- Aug 3, 2024
- 5 min read
Youtube English: https://youtu.be/C9QPxP-es5s?feature=shared
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Aluminium Producer: Production of key minerals in the country, such as iron ore and limestone, has continued to show robust growth in Q1 of FY 2024-25, after reaching record production levels in FY 2023-24. Iron ore and limestone account for about 80% of the total MCDR mineral production by value.
Production of iron ore was 275 million metric ton (MMT) and limestone at 450 MMT in FY 2023-24.
As per provisional data, in the non-ferrous metal sector, primary aluminium production in FY 2024-25 (April-June) posted a growth of 1.2% over the corresponding period last year, increasing to 10.43 lakh ton (LT) in FY 2024-25 (April-June) from 10.28 LT in FY 2023-24 (April-June).
India is the 2nd largest Aluminium producer, 3rd largest lime producer and 4th largest iron ore producer in the world. Continued growth in production of iron ore and limestone in the current financial year reflects the robust demand conditions in the user industries viz. steel and cement. Coupled with growth in Aluminium, these growth trends point towards continued strong economic activity in user sectors such as energy, infrastructure, construction, automotive and machinery.
The production of iron ore has increased from 72 MMT in FY 2023-24 (April-June) to 79 MMT in FY 2024-25 (April-June), showing 9.7% growth. Limestone production rose from 114 MMT in FY 2023-24 (April-June) to 116 MMT in FY 2024-25 (April-June), with 1.8% growth.
Production of manganese ore has jumped by 11% to 1.0 MMT in FY 2024-25 (April-June) from 0.9 MMT over the corresponding period of previous year.
2. Surrogate Advertisement: Surrogate advertising is a form of advertising which promotes products that are prohibited from being advertised directly. This technique often uses a product from a different category as a substitute to indirectly market the banned product.
The Health Ministry has asked both Sports Authority of India (SAI) and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to bring in measures to prevent surrogate advertisement of tobacco and or alcohol related products by sportspersons.
In a communication issuedon Thursday,the Ministry said sportspersons, especially cricketers, are role models for society in particular youngsters for promoting a healthy, active, and productive lifestyle and it is disheartening to see surrogate advertisements of tobacco and/or alcohol-related products by some of the most well-knowncricketers and famous actors during cricketing events such as IPL.
These personalities are role models for millions of youth across the country.
This practice is commonly seen in countries where advertising for products like alcohol, tobacco, and certain pharmaceuticals is heavily restricted or banned.
How Surrogate Advertising Works
Alternate Products: Advertisers create a brand extension or an entirely different product with the same brand name as the restricted product. For example, an alcohol brand might promote soda, bottled water, or music CDs with the same brand name and logo.
Brand Recall: The goal is to maintain brand recall for the restricted product without directly advertising it. When consumers see the surrogate product, they are reminded of the original banned product.
Similar Branding: The surrogate advertisements use similar packaging, branding, and logos as the restricted product to create a strong association in the minds of consumers.
Examples of Surrogate Advertising
Alcohol Brands: Many alcohol brands market products like music CDs, soda, mineral water, or event sponsorships to keep their brand visible to consumers.
Tobacco Products: Tobacco companies may advertise products like lifestyle magazines, fashion accessories, or even sporting events to maintain their brand presence.
Legal and Ethical Considerations
Surrogate advertising often operates in a grey area of legality and ethics. While it technically complies with the letter of advertising laws, it may violate the spirit of those laws designed to protect public health.
Regulations: Different countries have varying regulations regarding surrogate advertising. Some have stricter laws and actively monitor and penalize brands that use such tactics, while others may have more lenient or unclear regulations.
Ethical Concerns: Critics argue that surrogate advertising undermines public health policies, especially when it comes to promoting products like alcohol and tobacco that have significant health risks. It can also be seen as a deceptive practice, manipulating consumers into associating a brand with a product they might otherwise avoid.
Industry Responses
In response to regulations and ethical concerns, some industries have taken steps to self-regulate and limit surrogate advertising practices. However, enforcement and adherence to these self-regulations can vary widely.
Conclusion
Surrogate advertising remains a controversial practice. It allows companies to circumvent advertising bans and maintain brand visibility, but it raises significant legal and ethical questions. As advertising regulations continue to evolve, the future of surrogate advertising will likely involve stricter scrutiny
3.IAF’s Wing Commander Shubhanshu Shukla picked as ‘Prime Astronaut’ for Indo-US Mission to Space Station: Indian Air Force Wing Commander Shubhanshu Shukla has been selected as the prime astronaut for the upcoming Indo-US mission to the International Space Station (ISS), the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has announced.
A joint statement signed between India and the US during the official state visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in June 2023 envisioned a joint ISRO-NASA effort to the ISS.
Towards the goal of mounting a joint ISRO-NASA effort, the Human Space Flight Centre (HSFC) of ISRO has entered into a Space Flight Agreement (SFA) with NASA-identified service provider Axiom Space Inc, USA for its upcoming Axiom-4 mission to the ISS, the Indian space agency said on Friday.
A National Mission Assignment Board has recommended two Gaganyatris as prime and backup Mission Pilot for this mission. These include Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla (Prime) and Group Captain Prasanth Balakrishnan Nair (Backup).
4.Lakshya Sen claims historic win to become first Indian male shuttler to enter Olympic semis: Lakshya Sen made history on Friday by becoming the first male Indian shuttler to qualify for the semi-finals of an Olympics. He achieved this milestone by defeating Chinese Taipei’s Chou Tien-chen with a score of 19-21, 21-15, 21-12 in the quarter-finals of the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Previously, the best performances by Indian male shuttlers in the Olympic men’s singles badminton tournament were by Parupalli Kashyap (London 2012) and Kidambi Srikanth (Rio 2016), both of whom reached the quarter-finals.
5.32nd International Conference of Agricultural Economists: Current agri-food systems are not sustainable. Chronic hunger and undernutrition remain stubbornly high and have increased recently due to several overlapping crises. Paradoxically, many of those unable to afford healthy diets are smallholder farmers.
At the same time, overweight, obesity, and related chronic diseases are rising. Malnutrition in its various shapes accounts for more than one-third of the global burden of disease. Beyond human health issues, agri-food systems are major contributors to serious environmental problems, such as climate change, biodiversity loss, and natural resource degradation. Profound system transformations are required everywhere – in low-, middle-, and high-income countries – such that agri-food systems can contribute more effectively to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). While the urgent need for
transformation is widely acknowledged, many open questions remain about the desired shape and size of sustainable agri-food systems and what concrete innovations, policies, and behavioral changes are needed globally and locally in different contexts.
ICAE 2024 will address urgent questions on how to make agri-food food systems more sustainable with a particular focus on the important role of agricultural economists in facing these interdisciplinary challenges. The conference will feature invited and contributed papers and sessions on topics such as healthy and sustainable diets, technological and institutional innovations, agroecology, gender roles and social equity in agri-food systems, environmental and social externalities of value chains, the true cost of food, and bioeconomy, among others.
The International Association of Agricultural Economists grew out of a conference hosted by Leonard Elmhirst at his home in Dartington Hall, Devon, England in late August and early September 1929.
Fifty agricultural economists from 11 countries attended. There were representatives from Canada, China, Denmark, Finland, Germany, New Zealand, Norway, South Africa, Trinidad, the United Kingdom and the United States.
Those present felt they had gained so much in improved understanding of both the differences and commonalities in the problems they faced in research and teaching. They resolved to find ways to increase their contacts and promote greater understandings among themselves and their colleagues.
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