Rapid Fire
Rapid Fire Current Affairs
- 24 Apr 2023
- 6 min read
The Black Sea Grain Deal
The Group of Seven (G7) agriculture ministers have issued an official statement calling for the extension, full implementation, and expansion of the Black Sea Grain Initiative (BSGI) deal that allows Ukraine to export over 27 million Tonnes of grain from its Black Sea ports.
The deal was brokered by the United Nations and Turkey in July 2022 but Russia, which invaded Ukraine in February 2022, has signaled that it will not allow the deal to continue beyond 18th May 2023 because its demands to facilitate its own grain and fertilizer exports have not been met.
The G7 ministers strongly disapprove of Russia using food as a way to create problems and force Ukraine to do what they want. They promise to stand with Ukraine and help those who are most affected by Russia's use of food as a weapon. The G7 members have also pledged to provide support for the recovery and reconstruction of Ukraine, including expertise in demining agricultural land and reconstruction of agricultural infrastructure.
Read more: Black Sea Grain Initiative (BSGI)
Basava Jayanthi
The Prime Minister paid tribute to Jagadguru Basaveshwara on Basava Jayanthi. It is a festival celebrated in honor of the philosopher, statesman, social reformer, and saint in the Shaivism Bhakti movement during the 12th century. Basaveshwara is well-known for his teachings of gender equality, social reforms, eradication of social discrimination, clarification of superstitions, and unnecessary rituals.
Basava Jayanthi is celebrated on the third of the bright half or Shukla paksha during the month of Vaisakha by Lingayats in the State of Karnataka, marking the birth anniversary of Basaveshwara.
Basaveshwara introduced the practice of wearing the Ishtalinga necklace, which symbolizes Lord Shiva and is worn by all Lingayats. The Anubhava Mantapa established by Basava laid down the foundation of social democracy.
Read more: Basava Jayanthi
Earth Day
Earth Day is an annual event celebrated on 22nd April to raise awareness about the need to protect our planet and its environment. In 2009, the United Nations designated 22nd April as ‘International Mother Earth Day. The theme for Earth Day 2023 is “Invest in our planet,” which calls on businesses, investors, financial markets, and governments to lead the way in building a healthier and more equitable global system. The private sector can use its power to promote green innovation and practices, while governments can incentivize citizens, businesses, and institutions to work toward environmental conservation. Individual citizens can also contribute by voting for politics that prioritize the environment and by supporting environmentally conscious businesses.
Earth Day was first observed in 1970 as a response to environmental degradation caused by issues such as smog, polluted rivers, and oil spills. Today, Earth Day is globally coordinated by EARTHDAY.ORG, a non-profit organization formerly known as Earth Day Network. It aims to build the world’s largest environmental movement to drive transformative change for people and the planet.
The landmark Paris Agreement, which aims to reduce global greenhouse emissions, was signed on Earth Day 2016, demonstrating the significance of this day in driving meaningful change for our planet.
Read more: Earth Day
National Panchayati Raj Day
National Panchayati Raj Day is observed on 24th April every year to commemorate the 73rd constitutional amendment that came into effect on the same day in 1993, which accorded panchayats a constitutional status as the third tier of local self-governance in India.
Although some states such as Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh and West Bengal had already recognized panchayats as local self-governance institutions, the 73rd and 74th amendments made this a pan-India phenomenon.
Panchayati Raj has been far more successful in giving women a fair share of representation, with one-third of total seats reserved for women at the local level, and some states providing 50% reservations to women in elections for the local bodies. This increased representation of women at the local level has various policy outcomes, including increased spending on community-based welfare for women and financial independence for women through self-help groups in many places.
There is significant variation in the degree of fiscal autonomy granted to local government bodies across states, with some having greater devolution of financial powers than others. For instance, Kerala and Maharashtra are ranked as the best in terms of following devolution, while Odisha and Assam are ranked the lowest among major states.
Read more: National Panchayati Raj Day, Panchayati Raj Institution (PRI)
