< Daily Current Affairs & Important Editorials

Privileges Committee

GS- II >> Polity>> Parliament

Context: Rajya Sabha passed a motion to end suspension of a Member of Parliament (MP) following a recommendation by privileges committee.

About Privileges Committee:

• It is a parliamentary standing committee present in both Houses of Parliament.
• It consists of 15 members in Lok Sabha (10 in case of Rajya Sabha) nominated by the Speaker (Chairman in case of Rajya Sabha).
• Key function: Investigate questions involving the breach of privileges of House or members, as referred to it by presiding officer of Houses.

Link: www.thehindu.com

Gram Manchitra

GS- II >> Governance >> Government Scheme

Context: Ministry of Panchayati Raj (MoPR) is promoting Gram Manchitra to facilitate Spatial Planning by the Gram Panchayat.

About Gram Manchitra:

• It is a Geographic Information System (GIS) Application, launched by MoPR in 2019.
• It has been developed by National Informatics Centre (NIC).
• It helps to perform spatial planning at Gram Panchayat level with use of geo-spatial technology.
• It provides single Geo Spatial platform to better visualize various developmental works and provide a decision support system for Gram Panchayat Development Plan.

Link: pib.gov.in

Panchayat Development Index

GS- II >> Governance >> Government Scheme

Context: Recently, the Union Minister of State for Panchayati Raj informed Lok Sabha about the Panchayat Development Index.

About Panchayat Development Index:

• It is a multi-sectoral index that is intended to be used to assess the overall holistic development, performance & progress of panchayats.
• It takes into account various socio-economic indicators and parameters to gauge the well-being and development status of the local communities within the jurisdiction of a panchayat.
• It would play a significant role for performance evaluation and progress assessment in achieving the localization of Sustainable Development Goals in rural areas.
• Under this the Local Indicators Framework on nine themes of Localization of Sustainable Development Goals was prepared.
• The nine themes: Poverty free and enhanced livelihood in village, healthy village, child friendly village, water sufficient village, clean and green village, village with self-sufficient infrastructure, socially just and socially secured villages, village with good governance, and women friendly village.
• Ranks: This Index ranks panchayats on the basis of scores, and categorises them into four grades.
• Scores under 40 per cent fall in grade D, 40-60 per cent in grade C, 60-75 per cent in grade B, 75 to 90 per cent in category A, while those scoring above 90 per cent will be categorised as A+.
• Significance:
• It shall provide valuable insights into the areas that require attention for improvement within the rural areas under the jurisdiction of the panchayats.
• It helps in identifying disparities, achievement of development goals, and formulating targeted policies of rural communities.

Source: pib.gov.in

Lakadong Turmeric

GS- III >> Economy >> Geographical Indication

Context: The Registrar of Geographical Indications (GI), Chennai declared and awarded the coveted Geographical Indication tag for Lakadong Turmeric.

About Lakadong Turmeric:

• Cultivated in the alluvial valleys of Lakadong in Jaintia Hills, Meghalaya Lakadong turmeric is said to be 3 times more potent than the regular turmeric.
• Cultivated in the valley near the confluence of rivers Myntang and Mynriang, the land is flanked by dense evergreen growth.
• The entire farming is traditional and no chemical fertilizers or pesticides are used.

Reasons for turmeric special:

• Turmeric is native to India and has been an intrinsic part of Siddha, Unani, Ayurvedic and Chinese traditional medicines.
• It has been used in South Asian and Middle Eastern cuisine for centuries.
• It is considered sacred and has been part of rituals, traditions and even beauty regimens.
• Turmeric contains curcumin, an active compound which has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.

Uniqueness of Lakadong Turmeric:

• As per reports, the Lakadong turmeric is said to have 7 to 12% of curcumin content while regular turmeric has 2 to 3% of curcumin content.
• Given the high curcumin content, the health-aiding and culinary-enhancing attributes of Lakadong turmeric are believed to be more potent than regular turmeric.
• This organically grown variety in Meghalaya is one of the most sought-after spices of the state.

Source: theshillongtimes.com

Jamun

GS- III >> Environment >> Flora & Fauna

Context: IISER Bhopal researchers conduct first genome sequencing of Jamun

About Jamun:

• Jamun’s medicinal properties: Notable for its medicinal properties, jamun gains attention as researchers complete the first-ever genome sequencing of this tree, aiming to understand the genetic basis behind its pharmacological benefits.
• Anti-diabetic and medicinal attributes: Jamun’s genome reveals key genes involved in the adaptive evolution, emphasizing its anti-diabetic, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties.
• Presence of terpenoids and glucosides explains its pharmacological significance in modern medicine.
• Genetic adaptations: The study identifies duplicated genes in the jamun genome, pointing to neopolyploidy events that potentially enhance the tree’s stress tolerance, making it resilient against factors like insects, heat, salinity, and drought.

Source: pib.gov.in