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Current Affairs 17th Sep 2024 for UPSC Prelims Exam

Precision Farming

Context: The Central Government is planning  to invest Rs 6,000 crore in Precision Farming/ Smart farming to boost crop yields.

What is Precision Farming ?

  • It is a farming management approach that uses technology (Internet of Things, Artificial Intelligence, drones and data analytics) to help farmers increase productivity and efficiency.
  • Precision farming uses a combination of technologies, such as;
    • GPS: Used for mapping, navigation and collecting data on fields.
    • Drones: Used for scouting fields for pests and damage and for spraying pesticides.
    • Machine learning: Used to process data from drones, robots and IoT devices.
    • Yield monitoring: Used to generate yield maps during harvest by measuring the amount of harvest collected at specific points in the field.

Current Affairs 17th Sep 2024 for UPSC Prelims Exam_4.1

Smart Precision Horticulture Programme
  • The Union Ministry of Agriculture is planning to launch a Smart Precision Horticulture Programme under the existing Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH) scheme.
  • It will cover 15,000 acres of land in five years from 2024-25 to 2028-29 and is expected to benefit about 60,000 farmers,

About Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF)

  • Nature of Scheme: Central Sector
  • Duration: FY2020 to FY2032.
  • Objective: To Provide medium to long-term debt financing for post-harvest management infrastructure and community farming assets.
  • Features:
    • Interest Subvention of 3% per annum for all loans up to a limit of ₹ 2 crores for a maximum period of 7 years.
    • Credit guarantee coverage under Credit Guarantee Fund Trust for Micro and Small Enterprises (CGTMSE) scheme for loans up to Rs. 2 crore.
      • The fee for this coverage will be paid by the Government.
    • 24% of total grants–in–aid under the scheme should be utilised for SC/ST entrepreneurs (16% for SC and 8% for ST).
  • Eligible Borrowers: Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS), Marketing Cooperative Societies, Farmer Producers Organizations (FPOs), Farmers, Self Help Group (SHG) etc.

Project Cheetah

Context: The Cheetah Action Plan (CAP) which aimed to introduce African cheetahs into India’s Open Natural Ecosystems completed its two years in September. Cheetahs in India were brought from Namibia and South Africa.

About Project Cheetah

  • The project involves moving cheetahs from South Africa and Namibia to Kuno National Park located in Madhya Pradesh.
  • Launched: on September 17, 2022.
  • Aim: To replenish the cheetah population in India.
    • It was declared extinct in 1952.
  • Cheetah Action Plan:
    • It is a project to conserve cheetahs and restore ecosystem functions in India.
    • Prepared by:
      • National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA)
      • Wildlife Institute of India (WII)
      • Madhya Pradesh Forest Department.
    • Objectives:
      • To contribute towards the global conservation of the cheetah species.
      • To restore open forest and savanna ecosystems, which will benefit biodiversity and ecosystem services.
      • To improve the livelihoods of local communities through eco-tourism and eco-development.

Current Affairs 17th Sep 2024 for UPSC Prelims Exam_5.1

Facial Recognition Technology

Context: Recently the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) has reiterated that Digi Yatra will become the “de facto” process of checking-in and boarding across all airports in India. Digi Yatra app uses Facial Recognition Technology.

What is Facial Recognition Technology (FRT)?

  • It is a biometric technology which uses algorithms to identify and map an individual’s facial features.
  • Procedure:

Current Affairs 17th Sep 2024 for UPSC Prelims Exam_6.1

Digi Yatra Initiative
  • It is a digital initiative that provides a paperless travel experience for air passengers in India.
  • It uses facial recognition to verify passengers at key checkpoints like check-in, security, and boarding gates.
  • Data safety:
    • Digi Yatra uses a Distributed Ledger and Self Sovereign Identity (SSI) to create a decentralised layer of trust between participants.
    • Biometric data is only used for authentication and verification and is deleted within a few hours of flight completion.
  • Owned By: Digi Yatra Foundation (DYF) – It is a Private Not for Profit Company

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I, Sakshi Gupta, am a content writer to empower students aiming for UPSC, PSC, and other competitive exams. My objective is to provide clear, concise, and informative content that caters to your exam preparation needs. I strive to make my content not only informative but also engaging, keeping you motivated throughout your journey!