UPSC EXAM QUIZ 23.01.2025

Explanation:

• National Panchayat Awards 2024 were awarded to 45 Panchayats across India by the President of India for their exceptional contributions to inclusive growth and sustainable development.
• The event highlighted the pivotal role of Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) in advancing rural governance and environmental sustainability.

Key Facts Related to National Panchayat Awards 2024

• The National Panchayat Awards commemorate the enactment of 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1992, which granted constitutional status to Panchayats as local self-governance institutions.
• These awards are typically presented on 24th April (National Panchayati Raj Day) every year.

Objective

• The awards aim to promote best practices, foster a spirit of competition, and motivate Panchayats to excel in delivering quality governance and services to rural communities.
• These awards were revamped in 2022 to align with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), using a multi-level evaluation across Block, District, State/UT, and National levels.

Explanation:

• Brazil, holding the BRICS presidency in 2025, announced Nigeria's admission as a "partner country" of the BRICS bloc.
• Nigeria becomes the 9th BRICS partner country, joining Belarus, Bolivia, Cuba, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Thailand, Uganda, and Uzbekistan. In BRICS, a "partner country" refers to nations or organizations invited to attend summits ministerial meetings, or participate in other joint ventures, but without membership status or formal decision-making power.
• Nigeria has the world's 6th largest population and Africa's largest, in addition to being the 4th largest economy in Africa. Nigeria is located on the Western coast of Africa, often called the "Giant of Africa."

Explanation:

• Central Government has partially relaxed the ban imposed on sugar exports in the 2024-25 season, allowing the export of 1 million tonnes of sugar.

Objective of sugar export decision

• Ensuring price stability: To keep sugar prices balanced in the domestic market.
• Benefits to farmers and workers: To improve the income of sugarcane farmers and workers working in the sugar industry.
• Increasing cash flow for sugar mills: To strengthen the financial position of the mills by disposing of excess stock.

Key Points

Export quota allocation

• The government has allocated an export quota of 1 million tonnes (MT) of sugar.
• This quota has been distributed among 518 sugar mills that have operated in at least one season in the last three sugar seasons (2021-22, 2022-23, and 2023-24).
• Each sugar mill has been equally allocated 3.174% of their average production of the previous three years.

Explanation:

• India is currently the world's seventh-largest producer of coffee.
• India’s exports of coffee reached 1.29 billion dollars during the last fiscal year.
• According to the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, this is almost twice as much as the 719 million dollars in exports in 2020–21.
• Italy, Belgium, and Russia were India's top importers of the 9,300 tonnes of coffee that the country sold in the first half of this month.
• India's main export is unroasted coffee beans.
• The country's export boom is being further fuelled by the rising demand for roasted and instant coffee.
• With 248,000 metric tonnes produced in 2022–2023, Karnataka tops in coffee production, followed by Tamil Nadu and Kerala.
• According to the Ministry, domestic consumption grew from 84,000 tonnes in 2012 to 91,000 tonnes in 2023.
• Higher disposable incomes, the emergence of cafe culture, and India's growing preference towards coffee over tea are all factors contributing to this.

Explanation:

• Mines Ministry in association with Odisha Government organized the 3rd National Mining Ministers’ Conference in Konark.
• During this conference, the Mining Tenement System (MTS) has been launched.
• This digital platform has been designed to streamline processes, enhance transparency, and improve efficiency in mineral resource management.
• The conference also marked the launch of the Fifth Tranche of Critical Mineral Block Auctions.
• Under this, 15 blocks across eight states will become available for auctions.
• The conference provided a platform for State Mining Ministers to share their visions for the mining sector in their respective states.