After partition, Pakistan recognized the People's Republic of China in the early years after 1947. After this diplomatic relations were also established with China in 1951. But Pakistan joined the Western Coalition of CETO (Southeast Asia Treaty Organization) and SENTO (Central Treaty Organisation), two anti-communist military agreements led by the United States.

The reason behind the membership of this coalition was that it was seen as part of a non-Soviet bloc. On the other hand, China stood under the leadership of Mao Zedong. In fact, the intention of Pakistan was to stop the Left from joining CITO and CENTO. In such a situation, it was clear that the situation in which the relations between China and Pakistan are today were contradictory earlier.

However, while Pakistan was part of the anti-China alliance, India had working relations with China. During that time slogans like 'Hindi-Chini Bhai Bhai' were raised. Both countries had the same anti-colonial, non-aligned approach.

India-China relations changed since 1962: The relations between India and China soured by the time of 1962. And China waged a war defying the slogan of Hindi Chinese Bhai-Bhai of India. As a result, Beijing began to develop closer ties with Islamabad. Let us tell you that in the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965, Pakistan got diplomatic support from China.

In fact, analysts believe that after India's defeat to China in 1962, Pakistan was fueled by aggression against India.

source - Jansatta

There are frequent objections to the publicized format of the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSI) allowing GM food in India. On February 3, 2022, in a letter to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of FSSAI and the Union Health Ministry, 162 professional doctors of the country have jointly lodged their objection to the provisions of the draft. The professional medical group has said that the current draft they propose to regulate GM food is not only unacceptable, but the ban on GM food should be strictly enforced legally.

FSSAI has proposed a framework for regulating GM food in India under Section 22 of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 (SSASA Act, 2006). On behalf of GM Free India, Dr. Arun Gupta has sent this letter to the Union Health Ministry apart from FSSAI.

Medical professionals have said in their letter that food safety is an essential thing for the health of the general public, therefore there is a need for a strict regulation for GM food. Biosafety documents of Bt brinjal and detailed studies by various independent experts suggest that the consumption of GM food is not safe for human health. Experts have even said in their findings that it can be poisonous in food form.

Bt brinjal release in India was banned indefinitely in 2010. At the same time, the weed resistant mustard was the new GM food crop which was passed by the regulators without making the biosafety dossier public. Unlike Bt brinjal, it has not been tested.

It seems that the scientists who developed the GM food are scared to conduct an independent trial and bask in their own data. Cultivation of two GM food crops was banned in India, but the new draft allows them to enter.

Practitioner groups said a rigorous biosafety assessment and safety regime is needed to ban GM foods, and any strict regime will expose the unsafe nature of GM technology. But the proposed rules seem to be trying to bring GM food, bypassing the facts, to risky GM technology by compromising the rules.

There is nothing about independent, long-term, comprehensive, multi-generational biosafety assessment in the proposed regulations and it appears that regulators are ready to accept approval elsewhere for GM foods, to allow them in India as well. Can go

Questioning the draft of the FSSAI, doctors have said that such an approach explicitly questions the very purpose of notifying any rules in the first place. It is clear that India's unique food cultures, our consumption and malnutrition status, our poor state of public health and weak public health system, and the preferences of our citizens are, to some extent, important considerations for framing these regulations. irresponsibly isolated.

It is of additional concern that these draft regulations ignore unknown and potentially toxic effects in malnourished children. State governments and their policy position on the matter also do not matter, even though public health is a state subject.

Meanwhile, there is a slew of scientific evidence to show there are health risks present in GM foods. The genes used in this technique and their toxic nature appear to perform the genetic engineering process on their own. The toxic chemicals and potential horizontal gene transfer that usually comes with GM crops causes unpredictable, volatile changes that occur at the molecular level. (The largest grown GM crops in the world, herbicide tolerant GM crops, have increased use and absorption of lethal herbicides by the crop, while insect resistant crops such as Bt crops contain newly produced toxins inside the plant, here Even in these crops pesticide use increases.)

Physicians said that existing documents suggest that there can be adverse health effects from GM foods like organ damage, reproductive health problems, immune compromise, effects on growth and development of an organism, allergies etc. Also, studies on GM foods show altered nutritional composition in them. In such context, it is natural that citizens expect immense responsibility and commitment from FSSAI to fulfill its primary mandate relating to food security. However, the draft rules do not reflect this.

Further, it is clear that GM foods, especially in the case of imported GM foods, shall be in the form of ultra-processed foods whose consumption, by the nature of their processing, may lead to cancer, type-2 diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular Many health hazards like diseases, depression, will increase. FSSAI will create a major health challenge by creating an easier route to GM foods.

Medical professionals have said that the draft rules of regulation are unacceptable from the point of view of food safety. The reality is that as of today no GM food item is allowed to be imported or sold in India. What we want is that this legal regulatory reality should be implemented, along with punitive action against the seller of GM food.

It must ensure that GM foods do not enter our food chain, and its regulatory tools and mechanisms (sampling, inspection, testing etc.) ensure that no GM foods are sold in India .

Source - Down to Earth

The Public Works Department (PWD) has decided to dedicate a nearly one kilometer long section in North Delhi to honor the Olympic champions.

PWD will dedicate this section to Olympic champions like Neeraj Chopra, Ravi Dahiya, PV Sindhu and others to celebrate India's success in Olympic and Para Olympics 2021.

This one kilometer long stretch will be named Olympic Vithi or Olympic Boulevard.

sports-themed section

This sports-themed section is the first of its kind. It will be redeveloped and re-designed as part of the ambitious road construction project by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. The estimated length of this section is 900 meters. It will be developed on the road number 51 extending from Mukundpur Chowk to MCD Colony near Model Town.

Olympic Gallery or Olympic Boulevard

The Olympic venue will have a sports look, which will include sculptures of the following players:

• Javelin thrower and Olympic gold medalist Neeraj Chopra

• Badminton player PV Indus

• Boxer Lovlina Borghin

• wrestler Ravi Dahiya

• Weightlifter Mirabai Chanu

• Wrestler Bajrang Punia.

The size of these idols will be 15 to 20 feet high, with sheet metal thickness of 2-3 mm and integrated lighting which will give them an aesthetic look.

The stretch will also have synthetic fiber cycle track, squat pushing, cycles, open gym with cross trainers and other equipment.

It also includes a children's play area, which includes multi-sport equipment for children such as the hexa-climber, swing, crawly climber, c-saw and others.

Why would Olympic Boulevard be built?

Olympic Boulevard will be built to celebrate and honor the champions. It will also try to motivate the youth of India to take up sports as a habit or to stay fit.

In the Union Budget 2022-23, a new “PM-Devine Scheme” has been proposed by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman.

What is PM-Divine Scheme?

The government has announced the PM-Divine scheme with an initial allocation of Rs 1,500 crore.

PM-DevINE stands for "Prime Minister's Development Initiative for North-East".

The objective of the scheme is to provide funds for infrastructure and need-based social development, including one of its kind 'Bamboo Link Roads' in Mizoram.

Bamboo Link Roads

Bamboo link road will be constructed in Mizoram under PM-Divine scheme. These roads will help in the transportation of bamboo from the forests. It will also help in the management of pediatric and adult hematolymphoid (head and neck) cancers in the North-East region.

How will Mizoram benefit from this?

Mizoram will get maximum benefit with the launch of two projects:

Pilot project for construction of Bamboo Link Road. Roads will be constructed at various places in different districts of the state at a possible cost of Rs 100 crore.

Construction of Aizawl bypass in the west direction for Rs 500 crore.

Who will implement the PM-Divine scheme?

The PM-Divine scheme will be implemented through the North Eastern Council (NEC). However, this scheme is not a substitute for existing central or state schemes.

importance of planning

The PM-Divine scheme will fund “infrastructure in line with PM Gatishakti and social development projects”. Funding will be done on the basis of felt needs of the North East. This scheme will enable livelihood activities for youth and women. It will also help fill in the gaps in different areas.

Other Projects

Other identified projects include:

• Establishment of dedicated services for “Management of Pediatric and Adult Hematolymphoid Cancer” in North Eastern States.

• NECTAR Livelihood Improvement Project (Multi-State).

• Promotion of scientific organic agriculture in North East India (multi-state).

• Gap funding for passenger ropeway system for Pelling to Sanga-Choling in West Sikkim.

• Gap funding for eco-friendly cable car from Dhapar to Bhaledhunga in South Sikkim.

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced in her budget speech that the government is going to work to improve connectivity on the northern border under the Vibrant Villages Programme.

What is the Vibrant Village Program?

The finance minister did not give details about the program. However, as per reports, the Vibrant Village program will be launched to improve infrastructure in villages along India's border with China. Infrastructure will be improved in states like Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh and Arunachal Pradesh.

Under this programme, residential and tourist centers will be constructed.

It will work to improve road connectivity and develop decentralized renewable energy sources.

Apart from this, direct access to Doordarshan and education related channels will be provided. Support for livelihood will also be provided.

importance of the program

The announcement of the launch of the Vibrant Village Program assumes significance in the light of increasing China's presence along the Himalayan border with India. China is actively building dual-use infrastructure. This has given rise to concerns among the government, strategic circles and security forces and strategic circles. China has carried out large-scale construction work on the border since 2017. It is building border villages in Tibet to strengthen its presence on the border.

Program Objectives

Vibrant Village Program will be started with the objective of upgradation of housing facilities. This objective will be met by strengthening the infrastructure in the villages located near the Line of Actual Control (LAC). It will also try to stop the migration.

model village of china

China has developed model villages in recent years in areas bordering India as well as Bhutan and Nepal. India's Vibrant Village program is believed to be a response to China's model villages.