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Minimum Support Price (MSP)<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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The <\/span><\/span><\/span>Agricultural Costs and Prices Commission<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>, established under the <\/span><\/span><\/span>Union Ministry of Agriculture<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>, fixes the <\/span><\/span><\/span>minimum support price (MSP<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>) of all agricultural products, including pulses.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
The MSP is set on the basis of cost of production, position of supply, demand and prices in markets, position of prices relative to other commodities, proper use of natural resources like land and water, economy of the country, and 50 percent profit on cost of production.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n
Reforms Needed<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n
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Revision of MSP Formula: <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>First of all, the MSP formula should be revised and the purchase of each crop in the entire country should be ensured at that declared price.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
Reforming Commission:<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span> The Agricultural Costs and Prices Commission should be given constitutional status, so that its recommendations are binding.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
Maximum retail price for consumers:<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span> A maximum retail price for consumers should be fixed by adding a reasonable profit of 50-60 per cent over MSP to the farmer.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
Abolishment of Restrictions: <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>All restrictions on transport, storage, trade, processing and export of all agricultural products should be abolished. In case of low domestic production, imports and taxes should be decided after the harvest.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Subramanian committee recommendations<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n
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In 2015, the Union government set up a committee headed by the then <\/span><\/span><\/span>chief economic adviser Arvind Subramanian<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span> to review the policy interventions required to incentivise the cultivation of pulses.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
Recommendations:\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n
Government measures<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n
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NFSM (National Food Security Mission):<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span> Launched by the Government of India during 2007-08 at the beginning of the 11th five-year plan.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span>\n
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The two-pronged strategy was followed by NFSM to achieve this.<\/span><\/span><\/span>\n
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To expand the area under cultivation of pulses, and;<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
To enhance productivity by bridging the gap between the actual and potential yield.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n
RKVY (Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana) programme: <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>\u00a0It is a continuing scheme under implementation from the 11th Five Year Plan period of National Development Council (NDC). The scheme will incentivize States in enhancing more allocation to Agriculture and Allied Sectors.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
PM-POSHAN: <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>The Indian government has urged states to procure pulses (for Mid-day meals) under the PM-POSHAN (Prime Minister\u2019s Overarching Scheme for Holistic Nutrition) program from NAFED (National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India Ltd.).\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
World Pulses Day: <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>February 10 is a designated global event to recognize and emphasize the importance of pulses and legumes as a global food. The<\/span><\/span><\/span> UN General Assembly adopted 2016<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span> as the <\/span><\/span><\/span>International Year of Pulses (IYP).<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Conclusion<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n
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Considering further limited expansion of cultivated area, the future high demand of pulses must come from increase in yield. Therefore adaptive research and technology assessment, refinement and transfer capabilities of the country need to be strengthened so that the existing technology transfer gaps are bridged.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
For this, an appropriate network of extension service needs to be created for flowing information between farmers, extension workers, and scientists to promote generation, adoption, and evaluation of location-specific technologies.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Source: <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>IE<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/p>\n
Antardrishti (Financial Inclusion)<\/u><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/h2>\n
Syllabus: GS3\/ Indian Economy & related issues<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n
News<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n
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In June 2023, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Governor launched a<\/span><\/span><\/span> Financial Inclusion Dashboard<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>, named Antardrishti.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Antardrishti<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n
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The dashboard will provide the required insight to assess and monitor the progress of financial inclusion by capturing relevant parameters.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
The dashboard, presently intended for internal use in the RBI, will further facilitate greater financial inclusion through a multi-stakeholder approach.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Financial inclusion<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n
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Meaning: <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>Financial inclusion is the process of ensuring access to financial products and services needed by vulnerable groups at an affordable cost in a transparent manner by institutional players.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
Background: <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>The concept of financial inclusion was first introduced in India officially <\/span><\/span><\/span>in 2005 by the Reserve Bank of India.<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
The objectives of financial inclusion are to provide the following:<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>\n
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A basic no-frills banking account for making and receiving payments<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
Saving products (including investment and pension)<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
Simple credit products and overdrafts linked with no-frills accounts<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
Remittance, or money transfer facilities<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
Micro insurance (life) and non-micro insurance (life and non-life)<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
Micro pension and<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
Financial Literacy.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n
Significance of Financial Inclusion<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n
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Financial inclusion strengthens the availability of economic resources and builds the concept of savings among the poor.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
Financial inclusion is a major step towards inclusive growth. It helps in the overall economic development of the underprivileged population.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
\u00a0In India, effective financial inclusion is needed for the uplift of the poor and disadvantaged people by providing them with the modified financial products and services.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Challenges in Achieving Financial Inclusion<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n
<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n
Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY)<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n
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It is the National Mission on Financial Inclusion to ensure access to financial services, namely, basic savings & deposit accounts, remittance, credit, insurance, pension in an affordable manner.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
It was launched by PM Modi in August 2014.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
Benefits under PMJDY<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>\n
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One basic savings bank account is opened for unbanked people.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
There is no requirement to maintain any minimum balance in PMJDY accounts.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
Interest is earned on the deposit in PMJDY accounts.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
Rupay Debit card is provided to the PMJDY account holder.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
Accident Insurance Cover of Rs.1 lakh (enhanced to Rs. 2 lakh to new PMJDY accounts opened after 28.8.2018) is available with RuPay card issued to the PMJDY account holders.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
An overdraft (OD) facility up to Rs. 10,000 to eligible account holders is available.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
PMJDY accounts are eligible for Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT), Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana (PMJJBY), Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana (PMSBY), Atal Pension Yojana (APY), Micro Units Development & Refinance Agency Bank (MUDRA) scheme.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Financial Inclusion (FI) Index<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/u><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n
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RBI constructed the Financial Inclusion (FI) Index in 2021 to measure the extent of financial inclusion.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
It is based on three dimensions (weights indicated in brackets): Access (35 per cent), Usage (45 per cent), and Quality (20 per cent).<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Other financial inclusion schemes in India<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n
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Jeevan Suraksha Bandhan Yojana,\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana,\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana (PMSBY),\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
Atal Pension Yojana (APY),\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
Varishtha Pension Bima Yojana (VPBY),\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
Credit Enhancement Guarantee Scheme (CEGS) for scheduled castes, and\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Source: <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>BS<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a>
\n\u00a0<\/p>\n
MISHTI (Mangrove Initiative for Shoreline Habitats and Tangible Incomes)<\/u><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/h2>\n
Syllabus: GS3\/ Environment<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n
In News<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n
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On the occasion of World Environment Day (June 5, 2023), PM Modi launched the <\/span><\/span><\/span>MISHTI (Mangrove Initiative for Shoreline Habitats and Tangible Incomes)<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>. The scheme was first announced by the Union finance minister in the 2023-24 Union budget.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
MISHTI (mangrove initiative for shoreline habitats and tangible incomes<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>)<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n
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Targets: <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>Initially the mangrove cover will be restored in nine states across the country. Overall, the scheme envisages the development of mangroves covering nearly 540 sq km, spreading across 11 states and two union territories over five years, starting from FY2023-24.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
Expected benefits: <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>This scheme will help in mitigating the threat to lives and livelihoods in coastal areas from rising sea levels and disasters like cyclones.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
Strategy: <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>It involves the sharing of best practices on plantation techniques, management practices, conservation measures and resource mobilization through the public-private partnership route.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
Funding: <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>The Centre covers 80% of the project cost, while state governments contribute the remaining 20%.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n
Mangrove Forests<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n
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A mangrove is a shrub or a small tree that lives in intertidal water in coastal areas and has roots in salty sediments, often underwater. They also grow in swamps.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
Mangroves are salt tolerant plant communities found in tropical and sub-tropical intertidal regions of the world. Such areas are characterized by high rainfall (between 1,000 to 3,000 mm) and temperature (ranging between 26\u00b0C-35\u00b0C).<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
Mangrove forests can survive extreme weather conditions and require low oxygen levels to survive. The mangroves cannot survive freezing temperatures and thus are found mainly in tropical and subtropical latitudes.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Significance of Mangroves<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n
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Carbon Sink: <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>Mangrove forests can store ten times more carbon per hectare than terrestrial forests. Also, they can store carbon up to 400 per cent faster than land-based tropical rainforests.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
Blue Carbon: <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>Once the plants die, they take the stored carbon into the soil. This is called “Blue Carbon”.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
Disaster management: <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>Moreover, Mangrove forests act as natural barriers against rising tides and storms. Each year, they prevent property damages of over $65 billion.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
Biodiversity: <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>They provide breeding grounds for marine biodiversity and 80% of global fish populations depend on healthy mangrove ecosystems.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
Employment: <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>They also support a rich food web, with molluscs and algae-filled substrate acting as a breeding ground for small fish, mud crabs and shrimps, thus providing a livelihood to local artisanal fishers.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
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Do you know?<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n
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International Day for the Conservation of the Mangrove Ecosystem <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>is celebrated every year on July 26 to raise awareness about mangrove ecosystems.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
The day was designated by UNESCO in 2015.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n
Threats<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n
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Between 2010 and 2020, around 600 sq. km of mangroves were lost of which more than 62% was due to direct human impacts, the Global Mangrove Alliance said in its 2022 report.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
Infrastructure projects \u2014 industrial expansion and building of roads and railways, and natural processes \u2014 shifting coastlines, coastal erosion and storms, have resulted in a significant decrease in mangrove habitats.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Mangrove Cover: Worldwide<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n
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As per Global Forest Resource Assessment, 2020 (FRA 2020), world over, 113 countries have Mangrove forests covering an estimated 14.79 million hectares. The largest Mangrove area is reported in Asia (5.55 million hectares), followed by Africa (3.24 million hectares)<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
More than 40 percent of the total area of Mangroves was reported to be in just four countries: Indonesia (19 percent of the total), Brazil (9 percent), Nigeria (7 percent) and Mexico (6 percent).<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Mangrove Cover: India<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n
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According to the Forest Survey report 2021, mangroves cover in the country is 4,992 square km, which is 0.15 percent of the country’s total geographical area. Since 2019, the cover has risen by only 17 sq. km.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
India accounts for about 3% of South Asia\u2019s mangroves.\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
West Bengal has 42.45% of India\u2019s mangrove cover (mainly because of Sundarbans), followed by Gujarat (23.66%) and Andaman and Nicobar Islands (12.39%). Other states that have mangrove cover are Maharashtra, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Goa and Kerala.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
Important species of Mangrove ecosystems in India include Avicennia officinalis, Rhizophora mucronata, Sonneratia alba, Avicennia alba, Bruquiera cylindrica, Heritiera littoralis, Phoenix paludosa, Morinda citrifolia & Ceriops tagal.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Sundarbans<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n
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Sunderban, located in the northern Bay of Bengal is the world’s largest single patch of Mangrove Forests.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
Spread over approximately 10,000 sq km, in Bangladesh and India, Sundarban is the first Mangrove forest in the world, which was brought under scientific management, as early as in 1892.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
Status: <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>Four protected areas in the Sundarbans are enlisted as UNESCO World Heritage Sites, viz. Sundarbans National Park (India), Sundarbans West (Bangladesh), Sundarbans South (Bangladesh) and Sundarbans East (Bangladesh).<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
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Mangrove Alliance for Climate (MAC)<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n
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At the COP27 to UNFCCC at Sharm el-Sheikh in Egypt, the Mangrove Alliance for Climate (MAC) was launched with India as a partner.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
Members: <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>The MAC is an initiative led by the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Indonesia. It also includes India, Sri Lanka, Australia, Japan, and Spain as partner countries.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
Objectives: <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>It seeks to spread awareness on the role of mangroves in curbing global warming and its potential as a <\/span><\/span><\/span>“nature-based solution to climate change”.<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
The intergovernmental alliance will work on a voluntary basis which means that there are no real checks and balances to hold members accountable.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
Instead, the parties will decide their own commitments and deadlines regarding planting and restoring mangroves.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
The members will also share expertise and support each other in researching, managing and protecting coastal areas.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n
Source: <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>LM<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/p>\n
Rare Higgs Boson Decay<\/u><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/h2>\n
Syllabus: GS3\/Science & Technology<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n
In News<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n
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Recently scientists have reported that they had <\/span><\/span><\/span>detected a Higgs boson decaying into a Z boson particle and a photon.<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
What is Higgs Boson?<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n
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The Higgs boson is the<\/span><\/span><\/span> fundamental particle associated with the Higgs field, <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>a field that gives <\/span><\/span><\/span>mass to other fundamental particles such as electrons and quarks.<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span>\n
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Quarks and gluons are the <\/span><\/span><\/span>building blocks of protons and neutrons<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>, which in turn are the building blocks of atomic nuclei. Scientists\u2019 current understanding is that quarks and gluons are indivisible\u2014<\/span><\/span><\/span>they cannot be broken down into smaller components.\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n
The <\/span><\/span><\/span>stronger a particle\u2019s interaction<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span> with the Higgs boson,<\/span><\/span><\/span> the more mass it has.<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span> This is why electrons have a certain mass, protons have more of it, and neutrons have just a little bit more than protons, and so on.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
The Higgs boson <\/span><\/span><\/span>was proposed in 1964 by Peter Higgs, Fran\u00e7ois Englert, <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>and four other theorists to explain why certain particles have mass.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
The particle was finally discovered in 2012, by researchers at the<\/span><\/span><\/span> Large Hadron Collider (LHC)<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span> \u2014 the most powerful particle accelerator in the world \u2014 <\/span><\/span><\/span>located at the European particle physics laboratory CERN, Switzerland.<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
The LHC confirmed the existence of the Higgs field and the mechanism that gives rise to mass and thus<\/span><\/span><\/span> completed the standard model of particle physics<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span> \u00e2€Š\u2014\u00e2€Š the best description we have of the subatomic world.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
This discovery led to the <\/span><\/span><\/span>2013 Nobel Prize in Physics being awarded to Higgs and Englert.<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
Application:<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span> Since all the matter in the universe is made of these particles, working out how strongly each type couples to Higgs bosons, together with understanding the properties of Higgs bosons themselves, <\/span><\/span><\/span>can tell us a lot about the universe itself.<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
It is sometimes referred to as the \u201c<\/span><\/span><\/span>God Particle<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>\u201d as well.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n
Standard Model:<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n
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The Standard Model predicts that the <\/span><\/span><\/span>Higgs boson will take this path 0.1% of the time if its mass is 125 billion eV\/c2 <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>(a unit of mass used for subatomic particles).<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
The Standard Model has made many accurate predictions but it can\u2019t explain what dark matter is or, in fact, why the Higgs boson is so heavy.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
Testing its predictions as precisely as possible is a way for physicists to find <\/span><\/span><\/span>whether there are any cracks in the Model <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>\u2013 cracks <\/span><\/span><\/span>through which they can validate new theories of physics.<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
For example, some theories predict a higher rate of decay through this pathway; if the LHC and its detectors find experimental proof of that, the <\/span><\/span><\/span>new theories could open a new realm of science.<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Rare Decay Process<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n
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Scientists have detected a Higgs boson decaying into a <\/span><\/span><\/span>Z boson particle and a photon.<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span> This is a<\/span><\/span><\/span> very rare decay process<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span> that tells us important things about the Higgs boson as well as about our universe.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
The Higgs boson is a<\/span><\/span><\/span> heavy particle <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>and that is why it is an<\/span><\/span><\/span> unstable particle<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span> that decays into <\/span><\/span><\/span>lighter particles<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>. We can\u2019t always say which combination of particles it will decay into. However, the theory that describes the properties of fundamental particles has clearly predicted the <\/span><\/span><\/span>probability that it will take a given path.<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>\n
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The Standard Model says that a Higgs boson will decay to a <\/span><\/span><\/span>Z boson and a photon 0.1% of the time.<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span> This means the LHC needed to have created at least <\/span><\/span><\/span>1,000 Higgs bosons to have been able to spot one of them decaying to a Z boson and a photon.<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span> As it happens, the <\/span><\/span><\/span>Z boson is also unstable.<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n
This significance is even now not high enough for the teams to claim a Higgs boson decayed to a Z boson and a photon with 100% certainty, reflecting the<\/span><\/span><\/span> rarity of the decay pathway.<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Source:<\/span><\/span><\/span> TH<\/u><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/p>\n
Goomty<\/u><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/h2>\n
Syllabus : Miscellaneous<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n
In News<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n
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The Indian Railways has decided to secure the goomties days after the devastating three-way train accident in Odisha<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
About Goomty\u00a0<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n
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A goomty is a <\/span><\/span><\/span>small cabin<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span> at level crossings or near stations where railway equipment is kept.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
In other words, it houses signaling equipment on railway station premises with a double-lock arrangement.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
Recent Directions:\u00a0 <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>Launch a month-long safety drive to ensure that the goomties located within the railway station limits are provided with double locks.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Source: <\/span><\/span><\/span>TH<\/u><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/p>\n
\u2018100 Days 100 Pays\u2019 Campaign (Unclaimed Deposits)<\/u><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/h2>\n
Syllabus: GS3\/ Economy<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n
In News<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n
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The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) launched the \u2018100 Days 100 Pays\u2019 Campaign for Return of Unclaimed Deposits.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
About<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n
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Balances in savings \/ current accounts which are <\/span><\/span><\/span>not operated for 10 years, or term deposits not claimed within 10 years<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span> from date of maturity are classified as \u201cUnclaimed Deposits\u201d.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
These amounts are transferred by banks to <\/span><\/span><\/span>\u201cDepositor Education and Awareness\u201d (DEA) Fund<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span> maintained by the Reserve Bank of India.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
In May 2023, the RBI announced <\/span><\/span><\/span>a \u2018100 Days 100 Pays\u2019 campaign<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span> for banks to trace and settle the top 100 unclaimed deposits of every bank in every district of the country within 100 days.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
This campaign will aim to reduce the quantum of unclaimed deposits in the banking system and return such deposits to their rightful owners\/ claimants.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Source: PIB<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n
India\u2019s First International Cruise Vessel<\/u><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/h2>\n
Syllabus: GS3\/ Economy<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n
News<\/u><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n
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The Union Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways flagged off MV Empress, India\u2019s first international cruise vessel – from Chennai to Sri Lanka in Chennai.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
About<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n
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The cruise service is the result of an MoU signed during the <\/span><\/span><\/span>first Incredible India International Cruise Conference in 2022<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span> between Chennai Port and M\/S Waterways Leisure Tourism Pvt Ltd to start domestic and international cruise service.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
The cruise service will sail to three Sri Lankan ports; viz. <\/span><\/span><\/span>Hambantota, Trincomalee, and Kankesanturei.<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
To read about Ganga Vilas \u2018World’s Longest River Cruise\u2019, refer the following link<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n
https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/current-affairs\/13-01-2023\/ganga-vilas-worlds-longest-river-cruise<\/u><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Source: <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>PIB<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/p>\n
Amrit Dharohar Yojana<\/u><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/h2>\n
Syllabus: GS3\/ Environment<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n
News<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n
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On the occasion of World Environment Day (June 5, 2023), PM Modi launched the Amrit Dharohar Yojana. The scheme was first announced by the Union finance minister in the 2023-24 Union budget.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
About<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n
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The scheme will ensure conservation of the existing Ramsar sites with the help of local communities over the next three years.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
These Ramsar sites will become centres of eco-tourism and a source of green jobs for thousands of people.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
India currently has 75 Ramsar sites that are wetlands of international importance and designated under the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
To read about Ramsar Wetland Sites<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n
https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/current-affairs\/17-08-2022\/ramsar-wetlands-sites<\/u><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/p>\n
Source: <\/span><\/span><\/span>LM<\/u><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/p>\n
<\/body><\/html><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) Syllabus: GS 2\/Education\u00a0 In News The National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) announced the India Rankings 2023 of higher education institutions. \u00a0For the 2023 rankings, 5,543 unique institutions applied for ranking. National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) It has been accepted by the MoE and launched by the Honourable Minister for Education […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1605,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[21],"tags":[76],"class_list":["post-1604","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-current-affairs","tag-gs"],"acf":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2023\/07\/7391954Screenshot_2.png","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1604","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1604"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1604\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1605"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1604"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1604"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1604"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}