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- The Spices Board is collaborating with the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) and other regulatory bodies to implement additional regulations for the spice industry.
- About the Spices Board:
- Established on 26th February 1987 under the Spices Board Act, 1986, the Spices Board resulted from the merger of the former Cardamom Board (1968) and the Spices Export Promotion Council (1960).
- It is one of the five Commodity Boards operating under the Ministry of Commerce & Industry.
- The Board is tasked with overseeing the development of the cardamom industry and promoting the export of 52 spices listed in the Spices Board Act, 1986.
- Key responsibilities of the Board include the development of small and large cardamom, the promotion, and regulation of spice exports, and ensuring the quality of spices for export.
- It serves as a global liaison between Indian exporters and international importers.
- Additionally, the Board conducts research on both small and large cardamom through the Indian Cardamom Research Institute.
- Environmental activists are deeply concerned and alarmed about the rapidly decreasing water levels of the Caspian Sea.
- About the Caspian Sea:
- The Caspian Sea is the largest enclosed body of water on Earth, bordered entirely by land.
- Located between Asia and Europe, the sea gets its name from the ancient Kaspi peoples who once inhabited the Transcaucasia region to the west.
- It is an endorheic basin, meaning it has no outflow, and covers a vast area of approximately 386,400 square kilometers. The sea stretches about 1,200 km in length and 320 km in width.
- Bordering Countries:
- The Caspian Sea is bordered by Russia and Azerbaijan to the west, Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan to the north and east, and Iran to the south.
- The salinity of the Caspian Sea varies, with the northern parts being almost fresh, while the southern areas are saltier. The average salinity of the sea is about one-third that of the oceans.
- Three major rivers—Volga, Ural, and Terek—drain into the Caspian from the north.
- Key Cities:
- Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan, is the largest city on the Caspian. Another significant city along the coast is Nowshahr, located in Iran.
- The sea is home to around 50 islands, most of which are small. The largest include Chechen, Tyuleny, Morskoy, Kulaly, Zhiloy, and Ogurchin.
- Resources and Importance:
- The Caspian Sea is renowned for its rich energy resources, including oil and natural gas found in both offshore fields and onshore along the coast.
- It is also the primary source of caviar worldwide.
- Russia recently deployed autonomous launchers of the RS-24 Yars intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), equipped with nuclear warheads, along combat patrol routes.
- About RS-24 Yars:
- The RS-24 Yars (NATO designation SS-29) is a Russian intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) system.
- It is believed to have been commissioned into service in February 2010.
- The Yars is reported to share design similarities with Russia's SS-27 (Topol M) ICBM and the Bulava (SS-NX-32) submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM).
- Features:
- The RS-24 Yars is a three-stage, solid-fueled missile that can be launched from either a silo or a mobile launcher.
- It is approximately 22.5 meters in length and 2 meters in diameter.
- The total launch weight of the missile is around 49,000 kg, with an estimated minimum range of 2,000 km and a maximum range of 10,500 km.
- The missile uses an enhanced guidance system combining inertial and Glonass technologies.
- The RS-24 Yars is capable of carrying up to 10 Multiple Independently Targetable Reentry Vehicles (MIRVs), each armed with a thermonuclear warhead weighing 300 kilotons.
- It has advanced maneuvering capabilities during flight and can deploy both active and passive decoys, giving it a significant advantage against modern missile defense systems.
- Medical professionals have linked a sudden increase in hair loss cases affecting 279 individuals in Buldhana district, Maharashtra, to high selenium levels found in wheat supplied through local ration shops from Punjab and Haryana.
- About Selenium:
- Selenium is a trace mineral, meaning the body requires only a small amount of it.
- It naturally occurs in the soil, water, and some foods.
- Inorganic forms of selenium present in soil and groundwater are absorbed by plants and converted into organic forms, primarily selenomethionine, selenocysteine, and their methylated derivatives.
- Selenium is an essential component of 25 selenoproteins, including thioredoxin reductases, glutathione peroxidases, and selenoprotein P.
- Since the human body cannot produce selenium, it must be obtained through diet.
- The Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) for selenium for adults aged 19 and older is 55 micrograms per day. Pregnant women require around 60 micrograms, while lactating women need 70 micrograms daily.
- Food Sources of Selenium:
- Animal-based protein foods are typically rich in selenium. Seafood, organ meats, and Brazil nuts are among the highest sources of this mineral.
- Health Benefits:
- Selenoproteins play crucial roles in thyroid hormone metabolism, DNA synthesis, reproduction, and providing protection against oxidative damage and infections.