”UPSC Prelims Bits Today” covers various topics from UPSC Prelims Syllabus and is very helpful and time managing for UPSC Aspirants. The framing of this daily current affairs compilation article is easy to read and understandable.
Indian Nutrition Rating
Why in news?
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India has issued a draft notification on front-of-package labelling, which proposes “Indian Nutrition Rating” (INR) modelled on the health star-rating system.
What is in the draft?
- The draft of the amended Food Safety and Standards (Labelling & Display) Regulations, 2020 requires packaged food to display the prescribed format of INR by assigning a rating from 1/2 star (least healthy) to five stars (healthiest).
- The INR is to be calculated on the basis of contribution of energy, saturated fat, total sugar, sodium and the positive nutrients per 100 gm of solid food or 100 ml of liquid food.
- The star assigned to a product “shall be displayed close in proximity to the name or brand name of the product on front of pack.
- Certain food products such as milk and milk-based products, egg-based desserts, infant formula, salads and sandwich spreads and alcoholic beverages have been exempted.
New National Logistics Policy
Why in news?
Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the National Logistics Policy on Saturday.
Why logistics is important?
Crucial to trade
Logistics broadly includes facilities crucial to trade. It accounts for 13 to 14% of India’s GDP, almost double of what the costs are in developed countries.
To reduce logistical cost
The logistical cost in India is about 13% of GDP. Such a situation does not exist in developed countries. Due to high logistical cost, the competitiveness of India’s exports is greatly reduced.
4 Features of the new National Logistics Policy?
- The new logistics policy has four features: Integration of Digital System (IDS); Unified Logistics Interface Platform (ULIP); Ease of Logistics (ELOG); and System Improvement Group (SIG).
- Under the IDS, 30 different systems of seven departments are integrated – including data from the road transport, railways, customs, aviation and commerce departments.
- A Unified Logistics Interface Platform ULIP will “bring all the digital services related to the transportation sector into a single portal.
- Similarly, a new digital platform Ease of Logistics Services (E-Logs) has also been started for industry associations to resolve issues by reaching out to the government.
Popular Front of India
Why in news?
As many as 100 people linked to the Popular Front of India have been arrested following searches by the National Investigation Agency in connection with anti-terror activities.
What is the Popular Front of India?
- The PFI was created in 2007 through the merger of three Muslim organisations in southern India, the National Democratic Front in Kerala, the Karnataka Forum for Dignity, and the Manitha Neethi Pasarai in Tamil Nadu.
- The PFI emerged in the aftermath of the ban on the Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI.
- It has projected itself as an organisation that fights for the rights of minorities, Dalits, and marginalised communities.
- In 2009, a political outfit named Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI) evolved out of the PFI, with the aim of taking up the political issues of Muslims, Dalits, and other marginalised communities.
- The PFI does not maintain records of its members, and it has been difficult for law enforcement agencies to pin crimes on the organisation after making arrests.