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Daily Current Affairs for UPSC, IAS, UPPSC/UPPCS, BPSC, MPPSC, RPSC and All State PCS Examinations

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Locust Warning

Why in NEWS ?

• UN’s Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) warned India, to remain on “high alert” during the next four weeks for locust attack, which is tackling the worst locust attack in 26 years for the last three months.

About

• FAO said spring-bred locust swarms, which migrated to Indo-Pak border and travelled east to northern states, are expected to return back to Rajasthan with the start of the monsoon in coming days.
• Indian government has stepped up efforts and is using latest technology and equipment such as drones and Bell helicopters to control the menace.
• Rajasthan is the most affected State in the country. The other affected States are Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Haryana and Bihar

FAO

• Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations that leads international efforts to defeat hunger.
• It was established on 16th October, 1945 and headquartered at Rome, Italy.
• FAO is also a source of knowledge and information, and helps developing countries and countries in transition modernize and improve agriculture, forestry and fisheries practices, ensuring good nutrition and food security for all.
• India is a member of FAO.

China Doubles Down on Claims on Eastern Bhutan Boundary

IN NEWS

• Beijing has doubled down, including Bhutan’s “Eastern sectors” to the boundary dispute between the two countries for the first time.

ABOUT

• The boundary between China and Bhutan has never been delimited. There have been disputes over the eastern, central and western sectors for a long time
• According to written records, there has been no mention of Eastern Bhutan, or Trashigang Dzongkhag (district), where Sakteng is based, that borders Arunachal Pradesh, in 24 previous rounds of boundary negotiations held between the two countries between 1984 and 2016.
• According to Bhutanese experts, the claim on Sakteng will open new fronts of negotiation when the next round of boundary talks is held.

CONCLUSION

• Bhutan has always maintained a discreet silence on its boundary negotiations with China, and it does not have any formal diplomatic relations with Beijing.
• Such claims undermine the boundary talks and wild claims on either side by officials will only exacerbate issues as Bhutan too can lay claims far north
• Ultimately Bhutan and China need to resolve its boundary disputes or such false claims will come up as a pressure tactic.