In News:

The Union Home Minister inaugurated the headquarters of the National Turmeric Board in Nizamabad, Telangana, addressing a long-standing 40-year demand of turmeric farmers in the region.

About the National Turmeric Board (NTB):

• Established by: Government of India
• Status: Statutory body
• Location:Headquartered in Nizamabad, Telangana – popularly known as the "Turmeric Capital of India"

Administrative Oversight:

• Functions under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry
• Operates in coordination with the Ministries of AYUSH, Agriculture, Pharmaceuticals, and Cooperation

Governing Composition:

• Chairperson appointed by the Central Government
• Secretary from the Department of Commerce
• Members from:
  • Relevant central ministries
  • Turmeric-producing states (e.g., Telangana, Maharashtra, Meghalaya)
  • Farmer groups, exporters, and research institutions

Objectives of the Board:

• Promote value addition, branding, and marketing of turmeric products
• Ensure better prices to farmers by reducing intermediaries
• Promote global recognition of turmeric’s medicinal value
• Upgrade logistics and quality infrastructure to meet global standards
• Support training, research, and skill development in turmeric cultivation and utilization

Key Functions:

• Develop an end-to-end export ecosystem for turmeric
• Promote GI-tagged organic turmeric in international markets
• Ensure compliance with global food and safety standards
• Coordinate with the Spices Board, National Cooperative Exports Ltd., and other cooperatives for export promotion

Turmeric in India: An Overview

Botanical Information:

• Scientific Name:Curcuma longa
• A rhizomatous herbaceous plant, valued for its use in cooking, dyeing, and traditional medicine
• Commonly known as the "Golden Spice"

Agro-Climatic Conditions:

• Grown in tropical climates, requires 20–30°C temperature and high rainfall
• Prefers well-drained loamy soils
• Cultivated under both rain-fed and irrigated conditions

Production and Exports (2022–23):

• Area under cultivation: 3.24 lakh hectares
• Total production: 11.61 lakh tonnes
• India's global share: Over 75% of world turmeric production
• Varietal diversity: Over 30 indigenous varieties cultivated
• Exports: 1.53 lakh tonnes valued at USD 207.45 million
• Target: USD 1 billion in turmeric exports by 2030
• Top export destinations:Bangladesh, UAE, USA, Malaysia

In News:

Scientists at the Bose Institute, Kolkata, under the Department of Science and Technology (DST), have developed a modified CRISPR-based molecular tool to enhance plant resilience against heat stress and bacterial infections. The research is published in the International Journal of Biological Macromolecules.

What is the Innovation?

• The tool is a modified version of the CRISPR system called dCas9 (dead Cas9), which does not cut DNA.
• Instead, it functions as a stress-responsive gene switch, turning defense and heat-tolerance genes on or off only when the plant is under stress (e.g., high temperature or pathogen attack).

How Does It Work?

• The switch is held outside the plant cell’s nucleus using a tomato-derived protein domain (NACMTF3 TM domain).
• Under stress conditions, such as heat waves or bacterial infection, the tether is released.
• The dCas9 switch then enters the nucleus, activating genes that help the plant combat the stress.

Key Functional Genes Activated:

Salient Features of the Tool:

• Non-invasive: Unlike traditional CRISPR, this version does not edit the DNA, making it safer and more acceptable.
• Energy-efficient: The switch is activated only when needed, minimizing unnecessary energy use by the plant.
• Dual Protection: Shields plants from both heat stress and pathogenic infections.
• Eco-friendly and crop-compatible: Based on naturally occurring proteins, tested successfully in tomato, potato, and tobacco.

Significance and Impact:

• Climate-Resilient Agriculture: Helps plants survive in rising temperatures and unpredictable weather.
• Food Security: Boosts productivity in solanaceous crops like tomato, potato, brinjal, and chilli.
• Smart Farming Solution: Offers a model for sustainable and precision agriculture globally.
• Global Applicability: Can be adapted to other food crops affected by climate change and disease outbreaks.

In News:

The Hong Kong International Convention (HKC) for the safe and environmentally sound recycling of ships officially came into force on June 26, 2025.

About HKC:

• The HKC is a global treaty adopted under the aegis of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) to regulate the safe and environmentally sustainable recycling of ships that have reached the end of their operational life.

Objectives:

• Protect human health, especially that of shipbreaking workers.
• Prevent environmental pollution during ship dismantling.
• Control and manage hazardous materials such as asbestos, heavy metals, and hydrocarbons.
• Ensure safe waste handling and disposal practices in recycling yards.

Key Provisions:

• Inventory of Hazardous Materials (IHM):Ships must maintain an IHM listing all hazardous substances on board.
• Ship Recycling Plan (SRP):A certified SRP must be approved before the ship is sent for dismantling.
• Recycling Completion Certificate:Recycling facilities must issue this certificate within 14 days of dismantling completion.
• Third-Party Audits and Certification:Classification societies recognized by the IMO will conduct compliance audits and issue relevant certifications.
• Authorized Recycling Yards:The convention promotes the use of regulated and approved facilities for ship recycling to ensure compliance with international safety and environmental norms.

Significance:

• Strengthens global maritime safety and sustainable shipbreaking practices.
• Encourages modernization and regulation of recycling yards, especially in developing countries like India and Bangladesh.
• Aligns ship recycling with UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly those on health, environment, and decent work.

In News:

The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI), under the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC), Ministry of Finance, launched “Operation Deep Manifest”, resulting in the seizure of Pakistani-origin goods worth ?9 crore.

Key Highlights:

• Seizure Details:39 containers carrying 1,115 metric tonnes of goods—primarily dry dates—were intercepted at Nhava Sheva Port. These goods were falsely declared as originating from the UAE.
• Route Manipulation:The consignments were illicitly routed via Dubai’s Jebel Ali Port after being shipped from Karachi, Pakistan, to obscure their true origin. Shipping documents were falsified and containers were switched during transshipment to evade detection.
• Violation of Policy:This seizure comes after India’s comprehensive ban on Pakistani-origin goods, which took effect on May 2, 2025, following the Pahalgam terror attacks. This replaced the earlier 200% customs duty imposed post-Pulwama (2019) and represents a zero-tolerance economic policy toward Pakistan.
• Financial and Security Links:Investigations uncovered financial linkages with Pakistani and UAE-based entities, pointing to an organized smuggling network with possible illicit financial flows and national security implications.
• Enforcement Action:A partner from one of the importing firms was arrested on June 26, and further criminal and financial investigations are ongoing.

Significance:

• National Security:Helps prevent economic infiltration from hostile states and curbs funding channels that could support anti-national activities.
• Trade Compliance:Acts as a deterrent against third-country transshipment—a common method to bypass sanctions or import bans.
• Tech-Driven Enforcement:Utilized document forensics, data analytics, and container surveillance to detect misdeclarations and track suspect cargo routes.
• Reinforces Policy Posture:Strengthens India's position of economic disengagement with Pakistan in response to cross-border terrorism.

In News:

The Department of Telecommunications (DoT), in collaboration with the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), is piloting a Cell Broadcast (CB) system to enhance emergency communication and deliver real-time disaster alerts across India.

What is the Cell Broadcast System?

Cell Broadcasting is a telecommunication technology that enables mobile network operators to send geographically targeted text alerts to all mobile devices in a specific area. Unlike traditional SMS, CB messages are broadcast simultaneously to all phones within a cell tower’s coverage, ensuring instant delivery even during network congestion.

Key Features and Benefits:

• Instantaneous alerts during emergencies like earthquakes, tsunamis, lightning strikes, and industrial disasters.
• Indigenously developed by the Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT).
• Language inclusivity: Messages can be broadcast in multiple Indian languages.
• Particularly effective in high-density areas and during network overloads.

Integration with Existing Systems:

This CB system complements the existing Integrated Alert System (SACHET), which:

• Has delivered over 6,899 crore SMS alerts.
• Covers all 36 States and Union Territories.
• Supports 19 Indian languages.
• Is based on the Common Alerting Protocol (CAP) as recommended by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU).

Once fully deployed, the Cell Broadcast system will strengthen India’s disaster preparedness, ensuring wider, faster, and more inclusive dissemination of critical alerts.