2017
27
what is new ?
THAAD
The US’ Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) anti-missile system is operational in South Korea to
guard against missile threats emanating from North Korea. South Korea is concerned about the nuclear threat
posed by the North Korea especially after the accession of Kim Jong-un as the supreme leader of North Korea
in 2012. However, China and North Korea have continually called the deployment of THAAD in South Korea as
an act of aggression.
THAAD, is a missile defence system capable of intercepting and destroying short and medium-range ballistic
missiles in their final flight phase. Each THAAD system consists of interceptors, launchers, a radar, a fire
control unit and support equipment. Its role is to simply track and destroy missiles. First, by using radar
threats will be identified by those manning the system, who will then fire a projectile from a truck called the
interceptor to intercept the incoming missiles. The interceptor by using its kinetic energy destroys the incom-
ing ballistic missile. Hence it is considered safer as it does not make use of warheads to destroy missiles. The
THAAD is highly mobile and can be deployed worldwide. It is also interoperable with other ballistic missile
defense systems. Hence, it will provide the critical capability to defend against short and medium ranged
ballistic missiles.
It can intercept missiles inside and outside the atmosphere. The THAAD system in many ways is similar to
Israel’s missile defence system called Iron Dome, which is in operation since 2011. Iron Dome helps Israel to
prevent Gaza attacking Israel’s urban and highly sensitive areas. Iron Dome has a much shorter detection
range than THAAD and serves the purpose of intercepting short and medium range missiles.
SAMPADA
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has approved
re-structuring the schemes of the Ministry of Food Process-
ing Industries (MoFPI) under new Central Sector Scheme
called as SAMPADA (Scheme for Agro-Marine Processing
and Development of Agro-Processing Clusters) for the time
period 2016-20.
SAMPADA is an umbrella scheme incorporating ongoing
schemes of the Ministry of Food Processing Industries
(MoFPI) such as Mega Food Parks, Integrated Cold Chain
and Value Addition Infrastructure, Food Safety and Quality
Assurance Infrastructure, etc. It will also incorporate the
new schemes like Infrastructure for Agro-processing
Clusters, Creation of Backward and Forward Linkages, as
well as Creation / Expansion of Food Processing & Preser-
vation Capacities.
SAMPADA with an allocation of Rs. 6,000 crore is expected
to benefit 20 lakh farmers and generate 5,30,500 direct and
indirect employment opportunities in the country by the year
2019-20. The objective of SAMPADA is to supplement agri-
culture, modernize processing of agri products and
decrease their wastage.
The new umbrella scheme gives renewed thrust to the food
processing sector in the country. It aims to develop modern
infrastructure to facilitate entrepreneurs to set up food
processing units based on cluster approach and provide
effective and seamless backward and forward integration
for processed food industry. It proposes to achieve this by
plugging gaps in supply chain and development of
infrastructure facilities for processing and preservation and
modernization of existing food processing units. As a
result, SAMAPADA will result in the creation of modern
infrastructure coupled with efficient supply chain
management from farm gate to a retail outlet. It would
provide better prices to farmers and would help in doubling
their incomes. Implementation of the scheme will result in
creating huge employment opportunities, especially in rural
areas. From the perspective of the consumer, it would
promote the availability of safe and convenient processed
foods at an affordable price. Other initiatives to boost Food
Processing industry The government has allowed 100% FDI
in trading including through e-commerce with respect to
food products manufactured and produced in India. The
Governments has created a Special Fund of Rs. 2000 crore
in NABARD to provide credit at the concessional rate of
interest to designated food parks and agro-processing units
in the designated food parks. Food and agro–based pro-
cessing units and cold chain infrastructure have been placed
under the ambit of Priority Sector Lending (PSL).