{"id":156275,"date":"2025-02-21T19:13:37","date_gmt":"2025-02-21T13:43:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/?post_type=current-affairs&p=156275"},"modified":"2025-02-21T19:13:37","modified_gmt":"2025-02-21T13:43:37","slug":"news-in-shorts-21-february-2025","status":"publish","type":"current-affairs","link":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/current-affairs\/news-in-shorts-21-february-2025","title":{"rendered":"News in Shorts: 21 February 2025"},"content":{"rendered":"

Soil Health Card Scheme<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n

Context:<\/b> Soil Health Card Scheme (SHCS) has completed 10 Years since launch.<\/span><\/p>\n

About Soil Health Card Scheme<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n
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  • Launched in <\/span>2015.<\/b><\/li>\n
  • Aim: <\/b>To <\/span>improve soil health and fertility<\/b> by providing farmers with information on their soil’s nutrient status and recommendations for appropriate fertilizer use.<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Objective: <\/b>To ensure sustainable agricultural practices by promoting balanced fertilization and improving soil health.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Implementation: <\/b>By the Department of Agriculture of all State and Union Territory Governments, under the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Soil Testing: <\/b>Involves soil sampling, testing, and the generation of Soil Health Cards (SHCs) for every farmer.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
  • SHC Content: <\/b>Provides information on the nutrient status of the soil, including <\/span>macro-nutrients (N, P, K, S)<\/b>, <\/span>micro-nutrients (Zn, Fe, Cu, Mn, Bo)<\/b>, pH, electrical conductivity (EC), and organic carbon (OC).\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Integration with RKVY:<\/b> Merged in <\/span>Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY<\/b>) scheme as one of its components under the name<\/span> ‘Soil Health & Fertility’ <\/b>from the year 2022-23.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

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    Famine Early Warning Systems Network (Fews Net)<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n

    Context: <\/b>Recently, A warning and analysis system – Famine Early Warning Systems Network (Fews Net\u00a0 that focuses on acute food insecurity around the world was shut down on January 30, 2025.<\/span><\/p>\n

    About Famine Early Warning Systems Network (Fews Net)<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n
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    • FEWS NET is<\/span> a global system <\/b>that provides <\/span>information and analysis<\/b> on food insecurity.<\/span><\/li>\n
    • It was <\/span>established in 1985<\/b> by the <\/span>United States Agency for International Development (USAID)<\/b> and the <\/span>US Department of State<\/b>.<\/span><\/li>\n
    • Created after famines in <\/span>East and West Africa<\/b>, particularly the <\/span>1984-85 famines in Sudan and Ethiopia<\/b>.<\/span><\/li>\n
    • Aims to <\/span>predict and prevent<\/b> food crises by informing decision-makers.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

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      International Organization of Aids to Marine Navigation (IALA)<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n

      Context:<\/b> Recently, India was elected to the Vice Presidency of the International Organization of Aids to Marine Navigation (IALA) in Singapore.<\/span><\/p>\n

      About International Organization of Aids to Marine Navigation (IALA)<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n
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      • Formerly known as the International Association of Marine Aids to Navigation and Lighthouse Authorities.<\/span><\/li>\n
      • Established:<\/b> 1957 as a <\/span>Non-Governmental Organization (NGO)<\/b>.<\/span><\/li>\n
      • Transition to IGO:<\/b> In <\/span>2024<\/b>, IALA officially became an <\/span>Inter-Governmental Organization (IGO)<\/b> after the ratification of its convention by <\/span>34 member states<\/b>.<\/span><\/li>\n
      • Headquarters:<\/b> Saint-Germain-en-Laye, France.<\/span><\/li>\n
      • Purpose:<\/b> To harmonize and improve marine aids to navigation (AtoN) globally, ensuring safe, efficient, and environmentally friendly maritime navigation.<\/span><\/li>\n
      • India\u2019s Role: <\/b>India will host the <\/span>IALA Council meeting<\/b> in <\/span>December 2025<\/b> and the <\/span>IALA Conference & General Assembly<\/b> in <\/span>September 2027<\/b> in <\/span>Mumbai<\/b>.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

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        Digital Brand Identity Manual (DBIM)<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n

        Context<\/b>: MeitY launched Digital Brand Identity Manual (DBIM) to harmonize the government\u2019s Digital presence.<\/span><\/p>\n

        About Digital Brand Identity Manual (DBIM)<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n