Food Safety and Standards Authority (FSSAI) | Current Affairs | Vision IAS
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Posted 15 Apr 2024

8 min read

Food Safety and Standards Authority (FSSAI)

  • FSSAI has clarified that currently there are no standards for the term “health drink” in the country.

 

  • About FSSAI
    • Established: Under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006
    • Ministry: Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
    • Role: Laying down science-based standards for articles of food and regulating their manufacture, store, distribution, and sale.
    • Organizational Structure: It consists of a Chair person appointed by the Centre along with twenty-two members out of which one-third shall be women
  • Tags :
  • FSSAI
  • Food Safety and Standard Authority of India (FSSAI)
  • Food safety regulations

India Post (IP) in Antarctica

  • India Post opened a post office at its Bharati station in Antarctica.
  • The inauguration coincided with the 24th Foundation Day of the National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR), Goa.
  • Earlier, IP had set up post offices at Dakshin Gangotri Station in 1984 and another at Maitri Station in 1990.

 

  • About IP/department of post
    • It comes under the Ministry of Communications.
    • With more than 1,55,000 post offices, it has the most widely distributed postal network in the world.
  • Tags :
  • Antarctica
  • India Post

Special Rupee Vostro Account (SRVA)

  • The government simplified the payment mechanism for pulses import from Myanmar through the utilization of Vostro Accounts

 

  • About Vostro Account
    • A Vostro account is a bank account that other foreign banks hold with “our” bank in the domestic currency i.e rupees.
    • SRVA is an additional arrangement to the existing system that uses freely convertible currencies and works as a complimentary system.
    • Prior RBI approval is required for opening of SRVA
    • These accounts reduce the need for holding foreign exchange reserves and dependence on foreign currencies for bilateral transactions.
  • Tags :
  • SRVA
  • vostro account
  • special rupee vostro account

Shrinkflation

  • Rising input costs have made the fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) segment to adopt shrinkflation.

 

  • About Shrinkflation
    • It is the practice of reducing the size of a product while maintaining its current retail price. e.g., reducing the number of biscuits or chips in a packet for the same price.
    • It is a form of hidden inflation, which companies adopt to reduce customers' flee due to price rise.
    • Causes: Higher production cost, intense market competition, etc.
  • Tags :
  • Shrinkflation
  • inflation

Ringwoodite

  • Researchers have uncovered a vast reservoir of water, dubbed the "Ringwoodite ocean," concealed within the Earth's mantle, over 700 kilometers beneath the surface. 
    • "Ringwoodite Ocean" is a vast reservoir of water trapped within the mineral ringwoodite in the Earth's mantle.

 

  • About Ringwoodite
    • It is a vivid blue mineral formed under high temperatures and pressures in Earth's mantle.
    • It is one of the most typical high-pressure mineral in meteorites.
    • Named after Australian earth scientist Alfred E. Ringwood who studied polymorphic phase transitions in common mantle minerals, olivine and pyroxene.
  • Tags :
  • Ringwoodite

Science Based Targets Initiative (SBTi)

  • Climate experts voiced concerns regarding SBTi’s decision allowing companies to offset greenhouse gas emissions from their value chain.
  • SBTi is a corporate climate action organization that enables companies and financial institutions worldwide to combat the climate crisis.
  • It develops standards, tools, and guidance to meet corporate climate targets.

 

  • It is Incorporated as a charity, SBTi’s partners include,
    • Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP)
    • United Nations Global Compact,
    • We Mean Business Coalition, 
    • World Resources Institute (WRI), and
    • World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF).
  • Tags :
  • SBTi
  • corporate climate action

Operation Meghdoot and Siachen Glacier

  • Indian Army and Indian Air Force marked 40th year of its presence on strategically-significant Siachen glacier under Operation Meghdoot.
    • Operation Meghdoot was launched on 13 April 1984, when Indian Army and Indian Air Force (IAF) advanced to Siachen to secure heights dominating Northern Ladakh.

 

  • About Siachen Glacier
    • Located at the height of 20,000 feet, in the Eastern Karakoram Range of the Himalayas.
    • It is the second longest (75KM) non-polar glacier in the world, after Fedchenko Glacier in Tajikistan.
    • Nubra river originates from the Siachen glacier.
    • It is the highest militarized zone in the world.
  • Tags :
  • Operation Meghdoot
  • Siachen

Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera)

  • Ashwagandha is growing in popularity, both in India and abroad.

 

  • About Ashwagandha
    • It is an evergreen shrub found in parts of India, Africa, and the Middle East.
    • Used as a medicinal plant, especially in traditional Ayurvedic medicine.
    • Contains several bioactive compounds, including withanolides, which have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects.
    • Its supplements are often promoted for stress and anxiety, sleep, male infertility, athletic performance, etc.
  • Tags :
  • Ayurveda
  • Ashwagandha
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