• 08 Jun 2024

Special Status

Why in News?

In the aftermath of the General Elections, the Janata Dal (United) and the Telugu Desam Party have emerged as influential players in government formation at the Centre.

• Their renewed emphasis on securing special category status for Bihar and Andhra Pradesh has reignited discussions on this crucial issue.

Key Points

• Special Category Status is a classification provided by the Central government to support the development of states facing geographical and socio-economic challenges.
  • Currently, 11 States in India have SCS which are Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim, Tripura, and Uttarakhand.
• Special category status offers benefits to designated states such as enhanced funding, with 90% of funds for centrally-sponsored schemes provided by the Centre.
  • These states can carry forward unused funds from one fiscal year to the next and enjoy tax concessions. They also receive a higher allocation from the Centre's Gross Budget, amounting to 30%.

Special Category Status (SCS)

• The Constitution does not make a provision for SCS and this classification was later done on the recommendations of the 5^th Finance Commission in 1969.
• Status was first accorded to Jammu and Kashmir, Assam and Nagaland in 1969.
• SCS for plan assistance was granted in the past by the National Development Council of the erstwhile Planning Commission.
• SCS is different from Special status which imparts enhanced legislative and political rights, while SCS deals with only economic and financial aspects.

Haryana Government Removes Age Retention on Scheme

Why in News?

Recently, the Haryana government lifted the age limit cap on a scheme aimed at providing financial assistance to farmers and farm labourers in the event of death or disability while operating agricultural machinery.

Key Points

• The government has decided to eliminate the age restriction under the 'Mukhyamantri Kisan Evam Khetihar Mazdoor Jeevan Suraksha Yojana' for farmers, agricultural labourers, and market yard labourers.
• Under this scheme, financial assistance ranging from Rs 37,500 to Rs 5 lakh is provided to farmers, agriculture labourers, and market yard labourers.
  • Previously, the scheme stipulated that the age of the beneficiary should be between 10 and 65 years.
• Now, children younger than 10 years and persons older than 65 years will also be eligible for benefits under the scheme.

IIIT-A Achieves QS World University Ranking

Why in News?

Indian Institute of Information Technology, Allahabad has achieved the worldwide ranking 1,401 and holds the 46^th position in the overall category in the QS World University Ranking 2025.

Key Points

• QS World University Rankings are released annually by Quacquarelli Symonds (QS).
• The rankings evaluate the performance and quality of universities worldwide.
• The methodology considers indicators such as academic reputation, faculty-student ratio, employer reputation, sustainability, employment outcomes, international research network, citations per faculty, international faculty ratio, and international student ratio.
• They provide rankings by subject, region, student city, business school, and sustainability.

Dehradun Litchis Hit by Heat

Why in News?

The extreme heat in Uttarakhand, with temperatures exceeding 42 °C, has caused litchis to dry out and suffer damage from cracking.

Key Points

• The rise in heat waves has affected the fruit's overall growth and maturation.
• Litchi trees takes water from the soil, aiding in seed growth and aril development.
• The tubercell's red skin has been exposed to heat and cracked, it has caused a decrease in cell elasticity, impacting the fruit's juiciness, size, and succulence.
• Ramnagar litchi, recognized with a Geographical Indication (GI) certificate, is in high demand in nearby states like Chandigarh, Delhi, and Haryana.
• Pomologists caution against harvesting litchis too soon because litchis from Bihar enter the market before those from Uttarakhand.
  • Picking them early may result in the presence of tart and undersized litchis.
  • To enhance the flexibility of the young litchi fruits left on the trees, it is recommended to water them in the morning and evening while also using boron and gibberellic acid.

Litchi

• Botanical Classification: Litchi belongs to the Sapindaceae family and is known for its delicious, juicy, translucent aril or edible flesh.
• Climatic Requirements: Litchi thrives in sub-tropical climates and prefers moist conditions. It grows best in regions with low elevation, up to an altitude of around 800 meters.
• Soil Preference: The ideal soil for litchi cultivation is deep, well-drained loamy soil rich in organic matter.
• Temperature Sensitivity: Litchi is sensitive to extreme temperatures. It does not tolerate temperatures above 40.5°C in summer or freezing temperatures in winter.
• Rainfall Impact: Prolonged rain, especially during flowering, can interfere with pollination and affect the crop adversely.