Cabinet nod for world potato centre in Agra
New Delhi: The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Wednesday approved the establishment of the International Potato Centre's (CIP) South Asia Regional Centre (CSARC) at Singna in Agra, Uttar Pradesh.
The Peru-based premier research-for-development organisation focuses on potato and sweet potato.
The UP government has already provided 10 hectares of land for the project as the Centre will invest Rs 111 crore.
The Centre is expected to serve farmers, not only in potato-belt states like Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and West Bengal, but also cater to South Asian countries.
"The major objective of this investment is to increase food and nutrition security, farmers income, and job creation by improving potato and sweet potato productivity, post-harvest management and value-addition," said a statement.
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Indian Express
10 minutes ago
- Indian Express
Daily subject-wise quiz : Economy MCQs on GENIUS Act, hydrogen-based microgrid system and more (Week 116)
UPSC Essentials brings to you its initiative of subject-wise quizzes. These quizzes are designed to help you revise some of the most important topics from the static part of the syllabus. Attempt today's subject quiz on Economy to check your progress. 🚨 Click Here to read the UPSC Essentials magazine for June 2025. Share your views and suggestions in the comment box or at With reference to the Indian rupee, consider the following statements: 1. A free fall in the rupee's value is primarily prevented by interventions from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). 2. A weak balance of payments position supports the stability of the rupee. 3. External factors, such as the performance of the US dollar, do not affect the value of the Indian rupee. How many of the statements given above are correct? (a) Only one (b) Only two (c) All three (d) None Explanation — India's foreign exchange reserves increased by $1.51 billion every week, reaching $658.09 billion on November 29. This reversed an eight-week drop from the all-time high of $704.89 billion set on September 27. — In the almost two months since September 27, not only have forex reserves fallen by $46.79 billion, but the rupee has also weakened from 83.67 to 84.66 against the US dollar. — However, the depletion or accretion of forex reserves is not solely due to FPIs withdrawing or putting money into Indian markets. — Reserve movements are driven by the country's external balance of payments (BoP) transactions, including current and capital. Current account transactions primarily include the export and import of commodities and services. A good balance of payments situation helps the currency remain stable. Hence, statement 2 is not correct. — In terms of merchandise trade, India has always been a net importer. In 2023-24, its merchandise exports were $441.48 billion, far less than imports of $683.55 billion, resulting in a $242.07 billion trade imbalance. — A free fall in the rupee's value is primarily prevented by interventions from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). Hence, statement 1 is correct. — External factors, such as the performance of the US dollar, also affect the value of the Indian rupee. Hence, statement 3 is not correct. Therefore, option (a) is the correct answer. With reference to the hydrogen-based microgrid system, consider the following statements: 1. It uses water to produce hydrogen through electrolysis. 2. Toyota Kirloskar Motor and Ohmium International, based in the United States, have announced plans to collaborate on the development of a scalable green hydrogen-based microgrid. Which of the statements given above is/are correct? (a) 1 only (b) 2 only (c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2 Explanation — Toyota Kirloskar Motor and Ohmium International, a US-based company that manufactures electrolysers in India, have announced plans to collaborate on the development of a scalable green hydrogen-powered microgrid system. — Toyota will contribute its global expertise in fuel cell technology, while Ohmium will bring its electrolyser capabilities to investigate the potential of self-contained water-to-hydrogen-to-electricity systems for applications other than mobility, such as domestic gensets and hard-to-abate industrial sectors. Hence, statement 2 is correct. — A hydrogen-based microgrid generates hydrogen from water via electrolysis, which is either stored or fed into a fuel cell to create electricity on demand. Hence, statement 1 is correct. — Toyota's first-of-its-kind collaboration with Ohmium will allow the company to investigate the role of hydrogen in developing a broader energy ecosystem, not just for transportation, but also for decentralised, off-grid power generation. Therefore, option (c) is the correct answer. 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Notably, the potato crop is indigenous to the Peruvian-Bolivian Andes of Latin America and was spread throughout the world by the Spaniards and Portuguese who invaded the area. Potatoes reached India in the 17th century. — The CIP operates across South America, Africa, and Asia. It began operations in India in 1975, when it signed an initial arrangement with the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) for potato and sweet potato cooperation. Therefore, option (d) is the correct answer. With reference to the wilful defaulter, consider the following statements: 1. A 'wilful default' occurs when a borrower fails to complete their repayment commitments to the lender despite having the capacity to do so. 2. The number of wilful defaulters has decreased from March 2020 to March 2024. Which of the statements given above is/are correct? (a) 1 only (b) 2 only (c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2 Explanation — A staggering 2,664 corporates have been classified as wilful defaulters, failing to repay bank loans despite having the means to do so, according to the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). — According to RBI data, the number of wilful defaulters increased from 2,154 in March 2020 to 2,664 in March 2024, while the amount due increased from Rs 1,52,860 crore to Rs 1,96,441 crore over the last four years. Hence, statement 2 is not correct. — These firms have claimed many thousand crores in default and other obligations before the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT). According to the RBI classification, a 'wilful default' occurs when a borrower fails to complete their repayment commitments to the lender despite having the capacity to do so. Hence, statement 1 is correct. — A wilful default happens when the borrower has not utilised the finance from the lender for the specific purpose for which finance was availed of, and has diverted the funds for other purposes, or siphoned off funds, or disposed of or removed the movable fixed assets or immovable property given for the purpose of securing a term loan without the knowledge of the bank. Therefore, option (a) is the correct answer. Consider the following statements about opinion trading: 1. India has a law which can directly deal with opinion trading. 2. The platform providing opinion trading allows users to wager on the outcome of future events. Which of the statements given above is/are correct? (a) 1 only (b) 2 only (c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2 Explanation — Opinion trading services allow users to wager on the fate of future events. The business is expanding rapidly, attracting money and an estimated 5 crore users, but it appears to have mostly flown under the radar in India, unregulated. Hence, statement 2 is correct. — Opinion trading systems look to be betting platforms, and some in government share this perspective. However, investors and creators say that making money on these platforms requires a significant amount of skill. — India's sector includes companies such as Gurugram-based Probo and MPL Opinio. The former asks questions about a wide range of topics, including sports, elections, and cryptocurrency, whereas the latter exclusively asks about cricket matches. — India currently lacks a law that can deal directly with opinion trading platforms such as Probo and MPL Opinio – however, in foreign markets such as the United States and Australia, where this industry is more mature, governments have decided to treat wagers as securities, putting the responsibility for regulation on the stock market regulator. Hence, statement 1 is not correct. — In India, the primary legal lens through which internet games are viewed is whether they are games of chance or skill. In games of chance, no one can have a competitive advantage over another because the outcome is entirely dependent on luck. However, in skill games, considerable preparation may be necessary to put someone in a better position to make a forecast. Therefore, option (b) is the correct answer. Consider the following statements: 1. India's own (domestically formulated) poverty line in 2009, before the Tendulkar recommendation, was Rs 17 a day per person for urban areas and Rs 12 a day per person for rural areas. 2. In 2009, Tendulkar raised the poverty line to Rs 29 per day per person in urban areas and Rs 22 per day per person in rural areas, and later to Rs 36 and Rs 30, respectively, in 2011-12. 3. In 2014, Rangarajan recommended raising the domestic poverty line to Rs 47 per person per day in urban areas and Rs 33 in rural areas. Which of the above given statements is/are true? (a) 1 and 2 only (b) 2 and 3 only (c) 1 and 3 only (d) 1, 2 and 3 Explanation — Historically, India had been a leader in poverty estimation and India's poverty line methodology and data collection influenced the rest of the world in how to study poverty. — However, India's last officially recognised poverty line was in 2011-12. It was built on a 2009 formula suggested by a committee led by noted Delhi School economist Suresh Tendulkar. Since then, there has been no update on the method. — In 2014, a committee led by former RBI Governor C Rangarajan was commissioned to provide a new method, but this recommendation was never officially accepted. — Since then, thanks to gaps and changes in relevant data collection, India has increasingly used either the Niti Aayog multidimensional poverty index (which is fundamentally different in how it measures poverty) or relied on the World Bank's poverty line. What were India's domestic poverty lines in the past? — India's own (domestically formulated) poverty line in 2009, before the Tendulkar recommendation, was Rs 17 a day per person for urban areas and Rs 12 a day per person for rural areas. — In 2009, Tendulkar raised the poverty line to Rs 29 per day per person in urban areas and Rs 22 per day per person in rural areas, and later to Rs 36 and Rs 30, respectively, in 2011-12. — In 2014, Rangarajan recommended raising the domestic poverty line to Rs 47 per person per day in urban areas and Rs 33 in rural areas. Therefore, option (d) is the correct answer. Which of the following documents is a certificate of Tax Deducted at Source (TDS) issued by an employer to a salaried employee to help with accurate filing of Income Tax Returns (ITR)? (a) Form 15G (b) Form 16 (c) Form 26AS (d) Form 10E Explanation — Tax filing season begins for the financial year 2024-25, and the assessment year 2025-26 has officially commenced, with salaried employees in India having received their Form 16 documentation. — There are new changes in Form 16 that have been announced in the Union Budget 2025 to improve transparency by giving a detailed explanation of compensation components, tax-exempt allowances, and deductions, as well as which salary perks are subject to taxation. What is Form 16? — Form 16 is a TDS (Tax Deducted at Source) certificate provided by employers to salaried employees, allowing them to accurately submit their Income Tax Returns (ITR) and comply with tax requirements. Therefore, option (b) is the correct answer. With reference to GENIUS Act, consider the following statements: 1. The passing of the bill signifies a major shift in the European Union's approach to digital assets. 2. This bill aims to regulate stable coins. Which of the statements given above is/are correct? (a) 1 only (b) 2 only (c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2 Explanation — The US Senate passed the GENIUS Act Bill on Wednesday with a vote of 68-30 in a major boost for stablecoins — reserve-backed cryptocurrencies that have received an impetus from the Donald Trump administration in America. Therefore, option (b) is the correct answer. Daily Subject-wise quiz — History, Culture, and Social Issues (Week 115) Daily subject-wise quiz — Polity and Governance (Week 116) Daily subject-wise quiz — Science and Technology (Week 116) Daily subject-wise quiz — Economy (Week 115) Daily subject-wise quiz — Environment and Geography (Week 115) Daily subject-wise quiz – International Relations (Week 115) Subscribe to our UPSC newsletter and stay updated with the news cues from the past week. Stay updated with the latest UPSC articles by joining our Telegram channel – IndianExpress UPSC Hub, and follow us on Instagram and X. Manas Srivastava is currently working as Senior Copy Editor with The Indian Express (digital) and leads a unique initiative of IE - UPSC Essentials. He majorly writes on UPSC, other competitive exams and education-related projects. In the past, Manas has represented India at the G-20 Youth Summit in Mexico. He is a former member of the Youth Council, GOI. A two-time topper/gold medallist in History (both in graduation and post-graduation) from Delhi University, he has mentored and taught UPSC aspirants for more than four years. His diverse role in The Indian Express consists of writing, editing, anchoring/ hosting, interviewing experts, and curating and simplifying news for the benefit of students. He hosts the YouTube talk show called 'Art and Culture with Devdutt Pattanaik' and a LIVE series on Instagram and YouTube called 'You Ask We Answer'.His talks on 'How to read a newspaper' focus on newspaper reading as an essential habit for students. His articles and videos aim at finding solutions to the general queries of students and hence he believes in being students' editor, preparing them not just for any exam but helping them to become informed citizens. This is where he makes his teaching profession meet journalism. He is also the editor of UPSC Essentials' monthly magazine for the aspirants. He is a recipient of the Dip Chand Memorial Award, the Lala Ram Mohan Prize and Prof. Papiya Ghosh Memorial Prize for academic excellence. He was also awarded the University's Post-Graduate Scholarship for pursuing M.A. in History where he chose to specialise in Ancient India due to his keen interest in Archaeology. He has also successfully completed a Certificate course on Women's Studies by the Women's Studies Development Centre, DU. As a part of N.S.S in the past, Manas has worked with national and international organisations and has shown keen interest and active participation in Social Service. He has led and been a part of projects involving areas such as gender sensitisation, persons with disability, helping slum dwellers, environment, adopting our heritage programme. He has also presented a case study on 'Psychological stress among students' at ICSQCC- Sri Lanka. As a compere for seminars and other events he likes to keep his orating hobby alive. His interests also lie in International Relations, Governance, Social issues, Essays and poetry. ... Read More
Time of India
11 minutes ago
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Our missiles tested in Pak during Op Sindoor, now trusted by world, says Yogi at data centre launch by PSU
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Hans India
11 minutes ago
- Hans India
Delhi: ACB books Saurabh Bhardwaj, Satyendra Jain in hospital construction scam
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