Farm bills news, Farmers protest update, Covid-19 Vaccine, Durga puja

2 October 2020

• Minimum Support Price will be Continuously Increased in Coming Years: Rajnath Singh

  Senior union minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday (1^st October 2020) assured the farming community that the minimum support price (MSP) will not only stay, but it will be continuously increased in coming years.

  Singh assured that no one can claim the ownership of farmers' land in place of contract farming and told there are enough measures in the legislations to protect the interests of farmers.

• Farmers in Punjab destroy Reliance Jio SIM cards in protest against Corporates over Farm Bills

  In protest against corporates over the contrary farm laws, farmers have started 'SIM Satyagrah by breaking or destroying Reliance Jio mobile SIM cards on 1^st October 2020. A day before, they had burned the Jio SIM cards while protesting in Amritsar. In a social media campaign against the Reliance Jio mobile SIM cards, some Punjabi singers were also seen breaking Reliance Jio mobile SIM cards.

• Coronavirus live updates: Covid-19 recoveries in India cross 53 lakh

  India's Covid-19 caseload inched closer to 64 lakh-mark with 81,484 infections reported in a day, while the number of people who recuperated from the disease crossed 53 lakh pushing the recovery rate to 83.70%. The death toll climbed to 99,773. 

• Farmers in stubble burning states to get new tech: Prakash Javadekar

  To manage paddy stubble, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI) has recently developed Microbe-based ‘Pusa Decomposer’ capsules for the states which are highly criticized for stubble burning. According to reports, this will be used on a trial basis in Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and Delhi this year, Union Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar said Thursday.

• 500,000 sharks likely to face slaughter for preparation of COVID-19 vaccine 

  To find a potent solution for coronavirus, at least half-a-million sharks may be slaughtered across the globe to prepare a vaccine, claimed an advocacy group Shark Allies. Conservationists have warned that shark squalene is being considered for use in COVID-19 vaccines. 

• Durga Puja 2020: Yogi Adityanath govt allows celebrations in Uttar Pradesh

  Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath government has allowed Durga Puja celebrations in Uttar Pradesh. However earlier, the BJP-led administration had denied permission for Durga Puja pandals across the state due to the coronavirus pandemic.