15 Feb 2021: PIB Summary & Analysis

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Sharif 2. Letter of Exchange between the Ministry of Ayush and WHO 3. National Food Security Mission (NFSM) 4. GrapeNet

1. Ajmer Sharif Dargah

Context:

PM hands over a Chadar for Ajmer Sharif Dargah that would be offered on the 809th (death anniversary) of Khwaja Moinuddin Chisti.

About Ajmer Sharif Dargah:

 Ajmer Sharif Dargah is the Sufi saint Khwaja Moinuddin Chisti’s tomb.  It is considered to be one of the holiest places by Sunni Muslims from the Indian subcontinent. The religious site attracts people of all faiths also.  The tomb of Moinuddin Chisti became a venerated site in the century following the preacher’s death in 1236.  Mughal emperor , who is believed to have visited the at least 14 times, reconstructed the dargah’s sanctum sanctorum in 1579.  The dargah’s white marble was built in 1532.  Made using bricks, marble and sandstone, the building represents Indo-Islamic architecture. About Moinuddin Chisti (Chishti):

 He was a Sufi saint who propagated the Chishtiyya order of sufism.  He was a Persian preacher who was born in present-day and had come to during the reign of of the Delhi Sultanate.  He moved to Ajmer in and became known as a compassionate spiritual teacher.  He was popular among people of all classes.

2. Letter of Exchange between the Ministry of Ayush and WHO

Context:

A Letter of Exchange was signed between the GOI’s Ayush Ministry and WHO on cooperation in the field of traditional medicine.

Details:

 The initiative has been taken to support the WHO SEAR (South East Regional Office) implementing the regional traditional medicine action plan, with particular emphasis on the safe and effective use of traditional medicine service including Ayurveda and other Indian traditional systems of medicine and its appropriate integration into national health care systems.  Efforts will also be made to strengthen capacities of SEAR countries in the area of traditional medicine.

3. National Food Security Mission (NFSM)

About NFSM:

 National Food Security Mission (NFSM) was launched in 2007-08 to increase the production of rice, wheat and pulses through area expansion and productivity enhancement; restoring soil fertility and productivity; creating employment opportunities; and enhancing farm level economy.  The sub-components of the mission are:  NFSM-Rice  NFSM-Wheat  NFSM-Pulses  NFSM-Coarse Cereals  NFSM-Nutri-Cereals  NFSM-Commercial Crops  Read more about NFSM in PIB dated Nov 19, 2019.

4. GrapeNet

Context:

APEDA upgrades GrapeNet.

What is GrapeNet?

 The GrapeNet is a web-based certification and traceability software system for monitoring fresh grapes exported from to the European Union.  It is an internet based electronic service offered by APEDA to the stakeholders for facilitating testing and certification of Grapes for export from India in compliance with the standards identified by NRC Pune, on the basis of consultation with the exporters.

 GrapeNet collects, stores and reports forward and backward traces and quality assurance data entered by the stakeholders, ie., exporters, laboratories and PSC authorities within the grapes supply chain in India.  GrapeNet is a first of its kind initiative in India that has put in place an end-to-end system for monitoring pesticide residue, achieve product standardization and facilitate tracing back from retail shelves to the farm of the Indian grower, through the various stages of sampling, testing, certification and packing.  Now, in a bid to ensure cyber security protection for its traceability initiative, APEDA has adopted Blockchain and cloud migration technologies in GrapeNet.