AI Weather Forecasting for Farmers
Source: Press Information Bureau (PIB)
Context:
The Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare (MoAFW) has launched a first-of-its-kind AI-based monsoon forecasting initiative. Under this initiative, SMS-based alerts are being sent to 38 million farmers across 13 states to assist with Kharif crop planning.
About AI Weather Forecasting for Farmers:
What it is?
✔ A unique government initiative using Artificial Intelligence (AI) to deliver monsoon forecasts directly to farmers via SMS (m-Kisan).
✔ It covers 38 million farmers across 13 states, focusing specifically on Kharif crop planning and risk mitigation.
Developed by:
✔ Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare (MoAFW)
✔ Development Innovation Lab – India
✔ Precision Development
Technology Used:
✔ AI Forecasting Models:
• Google Neural GCM (Global Climate Model)
• ECMWF’s Artificial Intelligence Forecasting System (AIFS)
✔ Blended Models: Provide forecasts up to 4 weeks in advance with higher accuracy compared to conventional methods.
✔ m-Kisan SMS Platform: Provides localized advisories in farmer-friendly language.
Objectives:
✔ Early Warning: Help farmers plan sowing and irrigation ahead of monsoon arrival.
✔ Risk Mitigation: Reduce losses from mid-season dry spells and extreme weather events.
✔ Decision Support: Assist farmers in selecting crops and inputs more efficiently.
✔ Climate Resilience: Strengthen farmers’ adaptive capacity to climate change-related uncertainties.
Key Features:
✔ Personalized & Localized Forecasts: Actionable, region-specific information.
✔ Weekly Updates: Continuous advisories during monsoon interruptions or delays.
✔ Farmer-Friendly Communication: Simple language and easy-to-act recommendations.
✔ Real-Time Accuracy: Successfully identified a 20-day monsoon stall in 2025.
✔ Scalable Model: Can be expanded to include Rabi season forecasts and other states.
Significance:
✔ Food Security: Timely sowing improves yield and reduces crop losses.
✔ Economic Impact: Reduces input wastage and boosts rural income and productivity.
✔ Technological Leadership: Positions India as a global leader in AI-enabled agricultural advisories.
Purple Fest 2025
Context:
Purple Fest 2025 was organized by the Indian Sign Language Research and Training Centre (ISLRTC) in collaboration with Amity University, Noida.
The festival celebrated the inclusion, dignity, and empowerment of persons with disabilities through cultural, entrepreneurial, and educational activities.
What is Purple Fest 2025?
✔ A national-level festival celebrating the creativity, rights, and empowerment of persons with disabilities (Divyangjan).
✔ It aims to promote awareness, inclusivity, and accessibility for persons with disabilities.
Objectives:
• Promote inclusion
• Raise awareness about assistive rights
• Empower persons with disabilities through entrepreneurship and skill development
• Celebrate talent through cultural and sports activities
• Build capacity through ISL (Indian Sign Language) focused training
Key Features:
- Art & Craft Exhibition:
Products made by artisans with disabilities are displayed.
- Entrepreneurship Stalls (22 stalls):
Businesses led by persons with disabilities are showcased.
- Cultural & Sports Events:
Encourage participation and representation.
- Continuing Rehabilitation Education (CRE):
Focus on sharing professional knowledge and Indian Sign Language (ISL).
- Recognition of Achievements:
Ms. Gurdeep Kaur Vasu, the first deafblind person in India to secure a government job under the multiple disability category, was awarded a Certificate of Appreciation.
Relevance in the UPSC Syllabus:
GS Paper II – Social Justice:
✔ Related to welfare policies and empowerment initiatives for vulnerable groups, including persons with disabilities.
✔ Linked to schemes like Sugamya Bharat Abhiyan and the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016.
GS Paper IV – Ethics:
✔ Encourages empathy, inclusivity, dignity, and equality in public service.
✔ Provides case study material based on a rights-based approach to disability.
Erra Matti Dibbalu (Red Sand Dunes)
Source: NIE
Context:
The Erra Matti Dibbalu (Red Sand Dunes) near Visakhapatnam and the Tirumala Hills in Andhra Pradesh have been included in UNESCO’s Tentative List of World Natural Heritage Sites.
About Erra Matti Dibbalu (Red Sand Dunes):
What it is?
✔ It is a notified National Geo-heritage Monument located along the Bay of Bengal coast near Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh.
✔ It spans approximately 1,500 acres, showcasing rare coastal geomorphological formations.
Origin & History:
✔ Formed during the Late Quaternary Age (~2.6 million years ago), recording climate changes and sea-level fluctuations.
✔ First documented in 1886 by British geologist William King.
✔ Declared a National Geo-heritage Monument by the Geological Survey of India (GSI) in 2016.
Key Features:
✔ Composed of sand, silt, and clay, with a distinctive reddish hue caused by natural oxidation.
✔ Contains dendritic drainage patterns and sedimentary layers that serve as natural climate archives.
✔ Only two other such sites exist globally – one in Sri Lanka and another in Tamil Nadu.
Significance:
✔ Geological Importance: Acts as a natural laboratory to study sea-level changes, monsoon evolution, and Quaternary geology.
✔ Educational & Research Value: Important for paleoclimatology and coastal geomorphology research.
✔ Tourism Potential: Can boost geo-tourism if managed sustainably.
Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit, 2027
Source: IT
Context:
Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced that Pakistan will host the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in 2027 and has directed preparations to begin in Islamabad.
The next SCO summit is scheduled to be held in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, in 2026.
About SCO Summit, 2027:
What it is?
✔ A permanent intergovernmental regional organisation that promotes political, economic, and security cooperation in Eurasia.
✔ Known for promoting the “Shanghai Spirit”—mutual trust, benefit, equality, and peaceful coexistence.
Establishment & Headquarters:
✔ Established on 15 June 2001 in Shanghai, China.
✔ Charter signed in 2002 (St. Petersburg), and it came into force on 19 September 2003.
✔ Headquarters: Beijing, China.
✔ RATS (Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure) is located in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.
Origin & Evolution:
✔ Evolved from the Shanghai Five Mechanism (China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan – 1996) aimed at resolving border issues and building regional trust.
✔ Expanded into a multi-sectoral organisation with a strong focus on security, counter-terrorism, and connectivity.
Membership:
✔ 10 full members: China, Russia, India, Pakistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Iran, Belarus (latest).
✔ 2 observer states: Afghanistan and Mongolia.
Annual Rotation:
✔ The SCO chairmanship rotates annually among member states, following the Russian alphabetical order of country names.
✔ The member holding the chairmanship hosts the Council of Heads of State (CHS) summit that year.
Key Functions & Activities:
✔ Regional Security: Counter-terrorism operations, intelligence sharing, and RATS coordination.
✔ Economic Cooperation: Promotes trade, investment, energy security, and connectivity (e.g., SCO Business Council, Development Bank proposals).
✔ Cultural & Educational Ties: Youth exchange programs, sports, cultural festivals, and scholarships.
✔ Multilateral Diplomacy: Serves as a platform for coordinating on Afghanistan, climate action, and Eurasian stability.
✔ Annual Summits: The CHS is the supreme decision-making body, while the CHG (PM-level) meets annually to approve budgets and priorities.
Handmade Carpet Industry in Crisis Due to USA Tariffs
Source: The Hindu (TH)
Context:
The handmade carpet industry in Bhadohi, which contributes over 60% of India’s total carpet exports, is facing a severe crisis. The imposition of a 50% tariff on Indian goods by the United States is leading to order cancellations, production cuts, and significant job losses.
About the Handmade Carpet Industry:
✔ Carpet weaving is a traditional craft where wool, silk, or cotton threads are knotted or tufted on looms to create beautiful and durable floor coverings.
✔ The Bhadohi–Mirzapur belt in Uttar Pradesh is known as the “Carpet City” and is India’s largest hand-knotted carpet cluster.
History:
✔ Its origins are traced back to the Mughal period. The Ain-i-Akbari (16th century) mentions carpet production under the patronage of Emperor Akbar.
✔ Persian weavers were invited to India, which led to the development of Indo-Persian designs.
✔ During the colonial trade era, carpet weaving expanded, and post-independence, Bhadohi became a major export hub attracting global buyers.
Key Features:
✔ Hand-knotted Carpets: These carpets are highly durable and renowned for their intricate designs. Depending on the size and complexity, it can take 3 to 6 months to weave one carpet.
✔ Materials: Made using premium wool imported from New Zealand, silk from Karnataka, and eco-friendly natural dyes, ensuring quality and sustainability.
✔ Cluster-based Production: With over 1,200 exporters and 2.2 million artisans in Bhadohi–Mirzapur, it forms the world’s largest hand-knotted carpet cluster, enabling economies of scale.
✔ Design Diversity: Ranges from Persian and Mughal floral motifs to modern geometric patterns, catering to global aesthetic preferences.
✔ Labour Intensive: Involves multiple skilled processes such as carding, spinning, dyeing, knotting, washing, and shearing, generating large-scale rural employment.
Significance:
✔ Economic Contribution: Exports worth over ₹17,000 crores in 2024–25, with 58.6% going to the U.S. market.
✔ Employment: Provides direct and indirect livelihood to over 2 million artisans in Uttar Pradesh and nearby states.
✔ Cultural Heritage: Preserves centuries-old weaving techniques and Mughal-era artistic designs.