30-06-22 Daily -Goa- GPSC Current Affairs

While the cashewnut is already synonymous with Goa,macecandy is poised to become another of Goassignatureproducts.

The fruit from which nutmeg is derived comprises of the rind called javetri (pericarp) and the kernel called jaiphal (nutmeg). While nutmeg is used widely, the pericarp often gets discarded by farmers, this even as 70% of the fruit comprises it.

In 2017, however, Goa-based ICAR-Central Coastal Agricultural Research Institute (CCARI) developed a process to makecandyfrom this rind.

The process of preparing this candy has already begun at the two centres Curchorem in South Goa and Pale-Kothambi in North Goa established recently by the .
The candy will shortly be available for retail sale as aproductof the states own brand GoVan.

The GoVan brand was created by the state under the Goa State Biodiversity Board (GSBB) to produce products from locally derived natural ingredients.
The two processing centres are run entirely by local Women and the idea was to preserve local biodiversity by helping generate livelihood opportunities through it.

approves $250 mn loan for road safety

The World Bank has approved a $250 million loan to support the Government of India’s road safety programme for seven States under which a single accident reporting number will be set up to better manage post-crash events.

The India State Support Program for Road Safety, financed by the World Bank, will be implemented in Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal. The $250 million variable spread loan from the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) has a maturity of 18 years including a grace period of 5.5 years.

The project will also establish a national harmonised crash Database system in order to analyse accidents and use that to construct better and safer roads.

It will also fund Network expansion of basic and advanced life support ambulances and training of first responder caregivers to road crash victims on the spot.

The project will also provide incentives to the States to leverage private funding through Public Private PARTNERSHIP (PPP) concessions and pilot initiatives.

According to a World Bank study, road crashes are estimated to cost the Indian economy between 5% to 7% of GDP a year. Official government data show that each year road accidents in India kill about 1,50,000 people and injure another 4,50,000. More than half of the victims are pedestrians, cyclists, or motorcyclists and almost 84% of all fatalities are among road users between the working ages of 18-60 years.

India successfully conducts VL-SRSAM missile test off the coast of Odisha