Overview:

• The removal of 5 percent Agriculture Infrastructure and Development Cess (AIDC) and 5 percent Basic Customs Duty (BCD) on raw cotton has been demanded by the industry.
• The exemption of the Agriculture Infrastructure development Cess and Customs Duty for import of cotton has been notified by the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC).

When will this come into effect?

From 14^th April 2022, this notification has come into effect and till 30^th September 2022, it will remain in force.

Overview:

• The long-range forecast of IMD is issued in two stages.
• The first forecast is released in the month of April.
• The second forecast is issued at the end of May.
• In the country, for the period 1971 to 2020, the long period average seasonal rainfall is 87 cm.
• In many areas of northern parts of the Indian Peninsula and adjoining central India along with the Himalayan foothills and some parts of Northwest India the rainfall will be normal.
• Over many areas of Northeast India, southern parts of the South Peninsula, and some areas of Northwest India the rainfall will be below normal.

Forecast Summary

According to the forecast that has been released, in the country, the southwest monsoon seasonal rainfall will likely be normal i.e. 96 to 104 percent of the Long Period Average (LPA).

The forecast predicts that the rainfall in the country is likely to be 99 percent of the LPA and a model error of 5 percent on either side has been predicted.

Rainfall category

Less than 90 percent of rainfall falls under the ‘deficient’ category, below normal is categorized when it is 90 to 96 percent, normal is categorized when it is 96 to 104 percent, above normal is categorized when it is 104 -110 percent and excess is categorized when it is over 110 percent.

How was the forecast generated?

For generating the forecast, April’s initial conditions have been used. Also, the best climate models having the highest skills over the Indian monsoon region have been used for predicting the forecasts.

Overview:

• This missile system has been developed to destroy transport vessels and surface warships.
• This missile system entered the service of the Ukrainian Navy in March 2021.

Development of the missile

In the Weapons and Security 2015 exhibition that was held in Kyiv, this missile was first revealed. This cruise missile’s first flight samples were manufactured in 2016’s second quarter. The production of the advanced missile systems was developed in collaboration with other Ukrainian enterprises like Kharkiv State Aircraft Manufacturing Company, Artem Luch GAhK, Pivdenne YuMZ PivdenMash, Motor Sich (MS-400 turbofan engine),  Vyshneve ZhMZ Vizar Kyiv, Radionics (seeker), Lviv LORTA and other radar electronics, Arsenal SDP SE (navigation system), etc.

Design of this missile

This missile system consists of a USPU-360 truck-based mobile launcher, a TZM-360 transport vehicle, four missiles, RCP-360 control, and command vehicle, as well as a special cargo vehicle. The length of the missile including the rocket motor is 5.05 metres. It also has a cross-shaped hard wing. The missiles have been designed so that they can be housed in transport and launch containers having a dimension of 5.30 by 0.60 by 0.60 metres. The maximum range of this missile system is around 300 kilometres. The weight of a single missile is 870 kilograms out of which the warhead weighs 150 kilograms.

Overview:

• To receive benefits under this scheme, sixty-seven companies had applied.
• The total investment expected from the 61 approved applicants is Rs 19,077 crore, with a projected turnover of Rs 184,917 crore over a five-year period.
• Investment in this sector will help in creating around 2,40,134 jobs.
• This PLI scheme is for textile-related products such as Man-made Fibre (MMF) apparel, MMF fabrics, and other technical textiles products.

Aim of this scheme

This PLI scheme will help in boosting the domestic manufacturing of MMFs, technical textiles, and garments. Financial support will be provided by the government under this scheme for a period of five years for manufacturing these products in India. This PLI will help in enhancing the country’s exports and manufacturing capabilities.

Overview:

• This disease is also known as the American trypanosomiasis, silenced disease, or silent disease.
• This disease is caused by the parasite named Trypanosoma crizu.
• Through the triatomine bug, also known as the kissing bug, this parasite is transmitted to humans.
• The impoverished people who live in rural areas under poor hygienic conditions are the ones most affected by this disease.
• This disease is more prone to the people in regions like Mexico, Central America, and South America.

History of this day

On 14^th April 2020, this day was first observed with the aim of generating awareness regarding the people that are suffering from the disease. The date 14^th April was chosen to observe this day as on this date in the year 1990 the first case of Chagas disease in a human was reported.

First patient

Berenice Soares de Moura, a Brazilian girl was the first reported patient of Chagas Disease. The disease was named after Dr. Calros Ribeiro Justiniano Chagas, who first diagnosed this disease. This disease was later termed the silent disease as it progresses slowly and is frequently asymptomatic.

Transmission of this disease

This disease can be transmitted to humans in various ways such as eating uncooked or partially cooked food that has been contaminated by the faeces of the infected bug, coming in contact with wild animals that have been infected with the parasite, and during blood transfusion from an infected person.

Once an individual is infected with this disease, it can cause the infected person to suffer from severe digestive and cardiac alterations as well as heart failure. This disease has been increasingly detected in the United States, Canada, and in some Western Pacific and European countries.