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Saffron blooms in Leh within 30 days in high-altitude experiment
ਖ਼ਬਰਾਂ ਵਿੱਚ ਕਿਉਂ?
Saffron blooms in Leh in 30 days: the Crocus sativus and GI-tag facts GS3 agriculture tests
Saffron flowers in Leh in a high-altitude trial.
Why it matters: general awareness
What you need to know
2 ਮਿੰਟ
A high-altitude cultivation experiment in Leh produced saffron blooms within 30 days.
If it succeeds, the trial could open commercial saffron cultivation and livelihoods for local farmers.
ਸਰੋਤ: Topper IAS editorial (PIB / The Hindu / Indian Express)
ਮੁੱਖ ਤੱਥ
Remember these
- A high-altitude trial in Leh produced saffron blooms within 30 days
- Saffron is obtained from the stigmas of Crocus sativus flowers
- Kashmir saffron (Pampore, Budgam, Kishtwar) received a GI tag in 2020
- Ladakh has been a Union Territory since 2019; Leh is its cold-desert district
- If the trial succeeds, it could open commercial saffron cultivation and livelihoods for local farmers
ਪ੍ਰੀਲਿਮਜ਼ · ਮੇਨਜ਼
How the exam will ask it
ਪ੍ਰੀਲਿਮਜ਼
- Saffron is derived from the dried stigmas of Crocus sativus and is among the costliest spices by weight.
- Kashmir saffron has been granted a Geographical Indication (GI) tag.
- Ladakh became a Union Territory in 2019, and Leh is a cold-desert region with high altitude.
ਮੇਨਜ਼
GS3 (Agriculture): Traditional saffron belts in Kashmir face climate stress and falling yields, so the Leh trial shows how crop diversification can extend cultivation into cold-arid high-altitude areas. Policy support such as the National Saffron Mission, GI branding, corm supply and market linkage can turn the experiment into farm income. The way forward is multi-season validation, farmer training, quality certification and value-chain building before scaling.
Quick recall
Answer before you reveal
A tranche of Sovereign Gold Bonds issued in 2021-22 became eligible for premature redemption. Consider the following statements about the Sovereign Gold Bond Scheme:
- The bonds are issued by the Reserve Bank of India on behalf of the Government of India.
- The tenor is eight years, with premature exit permitted after the fifth year.
- Investors earn a fixed rate of interest of 2.5 per cent per annum on the nominal value.
How many of the above statements are correct?
- None
- Only one
- Only two
- All three
ਜਵਾਬ ਵੇਖੋ
ਜਵਾਬ: D — Correct: All three — All three are correct: RBI issues the bonds, the tenor is eight years with exit after year five, and interest is fixed at 2.5 per cent. • None — wrong: Every statement is accurate, so 'None' is wrong. • Only one — wrong: All three hold, so 'Only one' undercounts. • Only two — wrong: All three hold, so 'Only two' undercounts.
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