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In the current fiscal year, goods and services procurement from the government portal GeM has crossed the mark of Rs 1 lakh crore. This occurred due to a growth in the buying activities by various departments and ministries.
GeM portal is also being integrated with the Panchayati raj institutions so that they can also buy and sell via online mode. Other new features that have been added include a mechanism for buyback that enables the buyers to replace their old products and get an additional discount or buyback.
Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, and Gujarat are among the top five states which are buying from this portal.
At present ministries, government departments, state governments, public sector units, and Central Armed Police Forces are allowed to transact through the GeM portal.
This portal offers a variety of products ranging from office stationery to vehicles. The top categories of products in this portal are computers, automobiles, and office furniture. Other listed services on this portal include waste management, logistics, web casting, transportation, and analytical.
India’s exports crossed the USD 400 billion mark in a fiscal year. This is the first time India’s export has reached such heights.
Several goods such as motor vehicles, auto components, buffalo meat, cereal preparations, carpets, rice, and processed fruits saw an increase in their overall exports volumes despite commodity price decline.
Engineering goods contributed the most. It grew at a nearly 50 percent rate and is expected to touch USD110 billion by FY2022’s end. By 42.8 percent the export of electronics goods rose. By 57.3 percent the jewellery and gems exports rose.
Due to a steady increase in the prices of crude oil, petroleum products exports rose by 147.6 percent.
Along with this inorganic and organic chemicals, meat, readymade garments, dairy products, and marine products saw an increase in exports.
October 5 has been designated as National Dolphin Day by the union environment ministry and it will be observed annually starting from this year.
Dolphins act as a perfect indicator of a healthy aquatic ecosystem, thus the conservation of dolphins is of utmost importance. Doing so will not only benefit the survival of the species but will also help the people who are dependent on the aquatic system for their daily livelihood.
The Gangetic dolphin acts as an indicator species. The status of this species provides information on the ecosystem’s overall condition along with information related to the other species that are present in that ecosystem. Gangetic Dolphins have been categorized as endangered species under the International Union for the Conservation of Nature Red List. In 2012 and 2015, the Uttar Pradesh forest department along with WWF- India recorded 1,272 dolphins in the Ganga, Chambal, Yamuna, Betwa, Ken, Sharda, Son, Gahagra, Geruwa, Rapti, and Gandak.
The Gangetic Dolphins are threatened due to water diversion, pollution, habitat fragmentation, etc.
Yoga Mahotsav 2022 is a campaign that will be held for 100 days, at 100 places and will include 100 organizations. This campaign will be organized till 21st June 2022.
To commemorate the 100 days countdown to International Day of Yoga (IDY) 2022, the National Institute of Naturopathy under the Ministry of Ayush will be conducting a yoga session on the theme titled ‘Common Yoga Protocol’ at Aga Khan Palace, Pune on 30th March. This will be followed by a workshop and a discourse on Yoga for Immunity in the same premises.
The Indian Naval Ship (INS) Valsura has been awarded the prestigious President’s Colour by President Ram Nath Kovind.
To mark this occasion, a guard of honour of 150-men was presented to the President and a ceremonial parade was held.
It is the highest award or honour that can be bestowed upon any of India’s military units. This award is also called ′Nishaan′ as it is an emblem that will be worn by the bestowed units’ officers on their left-hand sleeve of the uniform. This awards presentation acts as an acknowledgment of the receiving unit’s meritorious service. Although the practice of carrying the President’s Colour Award into battle has ceased, the custom of receiving, holding, and parading it is still practiced in the Armed Forces. This award can be bestowed on a military unit as a sign of recognition of exceptional service rendered to the country, both during war and peace.
In 1942 INS Valsura was established. It is one of Indian Navy’s premier training establishment. INS Valsura has been entrusted with the responsibility of training the sailors and officers who are part of the Indian Navy, and Coast Guard. Foreign countries having a friendly relationship with India are also trained here. Training is imparted on electronics, electrical, information technology, and weapon systems.
The European Union along with nine countries which also include India has called for international cooperation with the aim to promote data protection and the standards of privacy.
The countries along with the European Union are India, Comoros, Australia, Japan, New Zealand, Mauritius, Singapore, South Korea, and Sri Lanka.
The joint declaration has been issued as there is a lack of trust in how data is handled and this has negatively impacted the economies and societies of the respective countries. Due to this communities and individuals are hesitant to adopt new technologies, sharing personal data with commercial exchanges and foreign partners is also becoming a huge challenge. To face this challenge this declaration has been issued so that high data protection and privacy standards can be promoted and will help in the development of the said nations.
Over 1 lakh internship opportunities have been launched by Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan through the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) internship portal.
CISCO, Salesforce, RSB Transmission India Limited, and Mahatma Gandhi National Council for Rural Education (MGNCRE) are offering these internship opportunities.
The AICTE internship opportunities are being provided in the fields of programming and networking, cybersecurity, engineering, etc. As part of this internship programme mentoring support, boot camps, and rural management will also be provided with the aim of enhancing employment opportunities.
AICTE is a statutory body as well as a national-level technical education council that falls under the ambit of the Department of Higher Education. This organization was established in 1945 first as an advisory body and in 1987 it was given statutory status. The responsibility of AICTE includes coordinated development and proper planning of the country’s management education and technical education system. AICTE’s headquarters is located in New Delhi. Anil Sahasrabudhe is the chairman of this organization.
The second P-8I aircraft squadron of the Navy has been commissioned by the Indian Navy in a ceremony that was held at INS Hansa, Goa. ‘Condors’ is the title given to INAS 316. Condors are one of the world’s largest flying land birds and have a massive wingspan.
This newly commissioned squadron’s insignia depicts a ‘Condor’ that is searching over the sea’s vast bluish expanse. ‘Condors’ are noted around the world for their great sensory abilities, large massive wings, and sharp and powerful talons which represent the aircraft’s capabilities and the anticipated tasks that will be given to the squadron.
The Boeing P-8I aircraft will be operated by the INAS. P-8I is an aircraft with multi-role Long Range Maritime Reconnaissance Anti-Submarine Warfare (LRMR ASW) capabilities. This aircraft can also be equipped with a range of Torpedoes as well as Air-to-Ship Missiles. This aircraft will play an important role in electronic warfare missions, search and rescue, and maritime surveillance and strike. It will also be providing targeting data to the weapon platforms. The aircraft will also be providing surveillance information that is time-critical and will also help in detecting and destroying enemy submarines and ships.
A border agreement was signed between Assam and Meghalaya on 29th March 2022. With this newly signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), Meghalaya will be gaining 18.33 square kilometers and Assam will be gaining 18.46 sq km out of the total of 36.79 sq km. in 6 out of 12 areas of differences that were resolved between the two states.
The MoU will be considered to be a full and final agreement in respect of the six areas of difference. The areas mentioned are approximate in nature based on a table-top exercise conducted using spatial technologies. It will be more accurately determined during the Survey of India’s detailed survey for the demarcation and delineation of the boundary that will be conducted in the presence of representatives from both the state’s respective governments.
This MoU has been signed to settle the case of the inter-state boundary between Meghalaya and Assam with respect to 6 of the 12 areas of difference.
The 12 areas of difference are Gizang, Tarabari, Langpih (Lumpi), Hahim, Boklapara, Borduar, Khanapara-Pillangkata, Nongwah-Mawtamur (Garbhanga), Block-I & Block-II, Deshdoomreah, Khanduli and Psiar, and Ratacherra
Gizang, Tarabari, Boklapara, Hahim, Ratacherra, and Khanapara-Pillangkata are the 6 areas of difference that have been taken into consideration in the first phase.
National Education Society for Tribal Students (NESTS) is an autonomous organization that was established under the Ministry of Tribal Affairs (MoTA). On 2nd April 2022, this organization will be celebrating its fourth Foundation Day.
NESTS started its journey four years back with the aim of providing high-quality education to all the tribal students across the country in their own specific environment.
In its short journey that commenced in 2019, multiple milestones have been achieved by NESTS. It has also approved the building of 391 new schools. 140 schools are currently under construction and a total of 123 schools have started to function.
NESTS and the Ministry of Tribal Affairs have set up targets to complete the construction of a total of 452 new schools and the pending 67 schools under its old scheme by the year 2025.
The constructed schools will be having state of the art facilities which will be in line with the Navodya Vidyalaya. By The IITs and the NITs of the respective states along with the dedicated teams of NESTS the construction of the schools are being monitored.
CS Rajan has been appointed as the chairman of Infrastructure Leasing and Finance Ltd (IL&FS) and will take office after Uday Kotak’s term ends this week. CS Rajan has been appointed to this post for a period of six months.
A debt of around Rs 55,000 crores which is equivalent to 90 percent of the original debt of Rs 61,000 crore has been addressed. IL&FS also maintained its forecast that was made earlier of resolving the debt of Rs 61,000 crore, representing 62 percent of the total fund-based as well as the non-fund-based debt of over Rs 99,000 crore reported in October 2018.
The remaining amount of Rs 6,000 crore will be moved into FY22-23. The headquarters of IL&FS that was located in Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC), Mumbai has been sold to Brookfield for an amount of Rs 1,080 crore. After giving the letter of intent, in 2022 the assets will be handed over to Brookfield.
It is an infrastructure development and finance company that is funded by the government. The insurance companies and the public sector banks created this company. It has more than 250 subsidiaries including IL&FS financial services, IL&FS Investment managers, etc. Dr. Shyama Prasad Mookerjee Tunnel, India’s longest tunnel, which was opened to the public in April 2017 was funded by this organization. In 2018, the Government of India took control of the company after the company defaulted on its loans.
A permanent coordination committee has been set up by the Union Environment Ministry that also includes the Ministry of Railways to prevent the deaths of elephants on railway tracks.
The steps taken include
The Wildlife Institute of India, which falls under the ambit of the Environment Ministry, has published a document titled ‘Eco-Friendly Measures to Mitigate Impacts of Linear Infrastructure’ with the aim of assisting the various agencies in designing infrastructure to reduce animal-human conflicts. This document has been published in consultation with the National Highway Authority, Ministry of Environment Forest and Climate Change, World Bank Group, and National Tiger Conservation Authority.
A proposed USD 1.8 billion for supporting the Indo-Pacific strategy of the USA was announced by President Joe Biden. To counter the malign behaviour of China another USD 400 million was also announced.
In the Indo-Pacific region, the US is continuing to strengthen the role it plays. It is also looking to expand its cooperation with long-time partners and allies. The US will also be looking to include new defence and security, diplomatic, emerging and critical technology as well as supply chain, global health and climate initiatives tie-ups between its partners.
The US has been prioritizing the strategic competition it faces from China and has been working with partners and allies to resist and deter aggression from Beijing and Moscow. China has been identified as a challenge that is being faced.
Reserve Bank of India’s wholly-owned subsidiary Bharatiya Reserve Bank Note Mudran Private Limited (BRBNMPL) has set up an Ink Manufacturing Unit named “Varnika” at Mysuru, Karnataka. This new unit was dedicated to the nation by RBI governor Shaktikanta Das.
This organization mints all the Indian banknotes and was established in 1995 with the aim of addressing the increased demand for coins and banknotes. It operates by printing, designing, and supplying banknotes. Most of the country’s banknote requirements are supplied by BRBNMPL while the remaining requirements are met through Security Printing and Minting Corporation of India Limited (SPMCIL) which is a wholly-owned government agency of the Government of India. BRBNMPL’s headquarter is located in Bengaluru.
There are two presses of BRBNMPL in Salboni, West Bengal and Mysuru, Karnataka. 16 billion note pieces are being produced in both of these presses per year.
The 5th BIMSTEC Summit was held on 30th March 2022 in Sri Lanka in a hybrid mode. Prior to this on 28th and 29th March, preparatory meetings were held at the Foreign Minister and Senior Official levels.
Outcomes of the BIMSTEC Summit BIMSTEC Summit 2022’s main outcome was the BIMSTEC Charter’s adoption and signing. This charter formalizes the BIMSTEC grouping into an organization that will have a flag, an emblem, and formally listed principles that are to be adhered to by the member nations. The BIMSTEC leaders also oversaw the signing of 3 different BIMSTEC agreements that represent the progress being achieved by the group in the ongoing cooperation activities. Also, USD 1 million will be provided by India to the BIMSTEC secretariat for increasing its operational budget. The scope of the BIMSTEC scholarship program that is offered by the Nalanda International University is also being expanded.
The agreements signed The agreements that were signed are:
A BIMSTEC MoU on mutual cooperation for diplomatic training A BIMSTEC convention on mutual legal assistance related to criminal matters A MoA on the establishment of the BIMSTEC technology transfer facility. Progress was also seen regarding the BIMSTEC connectivity agenda with the ‘Master Plan for Transport Connectivity’, being adopted. This plan lays out a framework of guidance for all the connectivity-related activities that will be implemented in this region in the near future.
Main topics of discussion In this summit, discussions were held regarding the challenges that were faced during the COVID-19 pandemic, BIMSTEC’s progress as a regional group, the uncertainties that are being currently faced within the international system, as well as the establishment of basic mechanisms and institutional structures of the group.
The theme of the summit “Towards a Resilient Region, Prosperous Economies, Healthy People” is the summit’s theme.
BIMSTEC member countries India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Thailand, Myanmar, Bhutan, and Nepal are member countries of the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC).
Two premier research and educational institutions have released a study shedding light on the space economy of India. Even as India’s space programme expanded by leaps and bounds, the parameters surrounding it are vague.
The authors have relied on Parliament documents, Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), data on intellectual property rights, the Comptroller and Auditor General’s (CAG) reports, and various other government data, along with Scopus-indexed space publications.
Le Corbusier, the planner of Chandigarh prescribed the Edict of Chandigarh. Urban planners and health experts have termed the edict as a mandated rule book on the planning of the city that was laid down by Corbusier. He, while planning the city wanted its citizens to become the city’s guardians.
The Edict’s objective is to enlighten the future as well as Chandigarh’s present citizens regarding the basic concepts related to the city’s planning so that they can become its guardians and saviours thus saving the city from the whims of individuals. This Edict also sets out certain basic ideas that are related to the city’s planning.
This Edict states that the age of statues is no more. It also mentions that no personal statues in the parks of Chandigarh or even the city shall be erected. According to the Edict, Chandigarh has been planned in such a way that it intends to radiate a new sublimated spirit of art. Any form of personal remembrance should be limited to carefully placed bronze plaques and statues are strictly prohibited. Hence, the placing of Martyr’s statue at Punjab’s assembly will violate the edict.
The Edict has specified a set of things that are permitted and those that are prohibited. Along with the ban on placing statues, this Edict also completely bans commercialization and noise at Sukhna Lake. The Edict also talks about certain parks in Chandigarh such as Rajendra Park, Leisure Valley, etc. and no permission are to be given to unplanned buildings.
The Schengen Area is an area that comprises 26 European countries that have abolished all passports and border control at their respective mutual borders.
Over 400 million EU citizens, as well as non-EU nationals, tourists, businessmen, or other persons who are legally present on the EU territory, are allowed free movement, through this area. Not only does this agreement allows passport-free travel, but it also demands that the nations adopt certain common rules related to migration, thus, allowing refugees and others on visas to move around freely. Under this agreement, the police have been given access to chase all suspected criminals across the borders of the member nations as well as to access a database related to stolen objects and wanted people that are shared among the members. Under this agreement, the states are also allowed to reinstate border checks for the reasons of national security and “public policy for a time period of up to 10 days. Under exceptional circumstances, this can be extended for a maximum time period of up to two years.
Out of 27 EU countries, 22 are members which are Belgium, Austria, Denmark, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, Estonia, France, Greece, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Iceland, Latvia, Luxembourg, Lithuania, Lichtenstein, Netherlands, Malta, Norway, Portugal, Poland, Slovakia, Spain, Slovenia, Switzerland, and Sweden.
Of the five remaining EU members Croatia, Bulgaria, Romania, and Cyprus are legally obliged to join in the future. An opt-out has been maintained by Ireland and it instead operates a visa policy of its own. Liechtenstein, Iceland, Switzerland, and Norway, are not EU members but have still signed agreements related to the Schengen Agreement.
Three microstates of Europe San Marino, Monaco, and the Vatican City maintains open borders and thus are considered the Schengen Area’s de facto members. This is due to the fact that it is practically impossible of travelling to or from these countries without transiting through a Schengen member country.
On 30th March Rajasthan Foundation Day or Rajasthan Diwas is observed to commemorate the state’s formation. On 30th March 1949, Rajasthan was formed after the merging of Rajputana into the Indian Union.
Five Indian states border Rajasthan. They are Haryana and Uttar Pradesh to the northeast, Punjab to the north, Madhya Pradesh to the southeast, and Gujarat to the southwest. The state also shares a border with Pakistan’s Punjab and Sindh provinces.
It is also known as the Land of Kings.
Rajputana is the old name of this state. This name was given by the British Raj.
On the DBT Bharat Portal 313 centrally sponsored and central sector schemes from 53 different ministries have been onboarded with the aim of ensuring that the beneficiaries are accurately targeted.
This initiative was launched by the Indian government on 1st January 2013 to make reforms to the government’s delivery system. This initiative’s vision is to aid in a simpler and faster flow of funds and information to the beneficiaries across the nation.
The aim of the Direct Benefits Transfer (DBT) programme is to bring transparency to the subsidies transferred to the beneficiaries across the country through their bank accounts. It also looks to reduce fraud in the delivery system.
For cash-based DBTs, there were 70.6 crore beneficiaries and for kind-based DBTs, there were 74.1 crore beneficiaries in 2019-20. For 2020-21 the cash-based DBTs were 98 crores and kind-based DBTs were 81.9 crores.
The CPSMS is being implemented by the Controller General of Accounts office. It serves the purpose of a common platform for routing of Direct Benefit Transfers. The beneficiary list can also be prepared by taking the help of the CPSMS, digitally signing, and by using the Aadhaar Payment Bridge, payments are also being processed in the beneficiary’s bank accounts.
The Delhi State Legal Services Authority (DSLSA) in association with the National Commission for Women (NCW) has launched a legal aid clinic that aims to act as a single-window facility to resolve all the grievances that have been lodged by women by providing them with free legal assistance.
This newly launched legal aid centre has the objective of providing free legal services and advice to women. This legal aid clinic will also focus on protecting the rights of the women of Delhi and will look to provide them with a one-stop centre that they can approach to seek help and legal counseling. The women won’t have to run from pillar to post to seek legal aid anymore.
The legal aid clinic will be providing counseling, legal assistance will be provided to the women in distress. Information regarding various schemes of the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) will also be provided. Assistance regarding mahila jansunwai, matrimonial cases, free legal aid, and other complaints registered with the Commission will also be provided.
The NCW also has plans to collaborate with other State Commissions for Women for setting up similar legal services clinics.
The Oscars 2022 or the 94th Academy Awards ceremony which is presented by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS). This event was held on 27th March 2022 at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles.
This event was mired with controversy after Will Smith slapped Chris Rock for joking about Smith’s wife Jada Pinkett Smith who is diagnosed with alopecia.
The Museum of Prime Ministers or the Pradhan Mantri Sangrahalaya is being built at Teen Murti Estate in Delhi. If all goes well it will be inaugurated on the 14th of April, which will be coinciding with the birth anniversary of Dr. B R Ambedkar.
This Museum will be covering the life of all of India’s 14 Prime Ministers who have taken up this role so far. Their contribution will also be showcased. The works and collection of Jawaharlal Nehru will however be staying in the Nehru Memorial Museum, which was also his residence at one point in time.
In this museum speeches, rare photographs, newspapers, video clips, interviews, and original writings will be displayed. There will also be displays of personal belongings like caps, pens, letters, etc as well as interactive digital displays in this museum. Virtual reality and digital displays will be focused upon. This museum has been designed to accommodate all future PMs as well. This museum will be having a ground floor, a first floor, and a basement will all of them being galleries.
A two-day international summit on MSMEs’ Competitiveness and Growth is being organized by the Ministry of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSME) in cooperation with the Entrepreneurship Development Institute of India, Ahmedabad from 29th March 2022 in New Delhi.
This summit is going to be attended by academicians, entrepreneurs, various industry leaders, policymakers, multiple business chambers, thought leaders, start-ups, industry associations, MSMEs, social impact organizations, and self-help groups from across the globe as well as from India.
The discussions will be conducted by a variety of international as well as national experts on subjects related to opportunities and challenges in the MSME sector amidst the continuing COVID-19 pandemic. Discussions will also be held on the role of accelerators and incubators in the growth of MSMEs’, the role of conducive policies contributing to this field as well as non-financial business development services contributing to the competitiveness of MSMEs. Workings of MSME in consortia so as to achieve sustainability will also be discussed at this summit.
A special panel discussion with sustainability being a major point has also been lined up on the themes related to the planet, the people, and profits in the development of the MSME sector.
Discussions regarding the topics of internationalization of Indian MSMEs, competitiveness, innovation, technology, entrepreneurship ecosystem, digital transformation of MSMEs, and emerging opportunities in this sector will be touched upon.
The information regarding the Final Estimates of 2020-21 and First Advance Estimates of 2021-22 of Area and Production of various Horticultural Crops have been released by the Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare.
This newly-released report was compiled after collecting all the information that was received from the States and UTs of the country as well as other Governmental sources.
A book titled “Indian Agriculture towards 2030: Pathways for Enhancing Farmers’ Income, Nutritional Security and Sustainable Food and Farm Systems,” was released by Narendra Singh Tomar, Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare at an event that was organized by NITI Aayog and the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).
The themes covered in this book are:
This book also includes a foreword by Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu. An introduction has also been written by Tomio Shichiri who is the former FAO Representative in India.
From 19th to 22nd January 2021, the national dialogue was organized. Under this dialogue, the government’s efforts for designing a post-Green Revolution future for India wherein nutritional targets can be enhanced by the agri-food systems, enhancement of livelihoods, and safeguarding of ecological and human health were complemented.
The U.S. Senate gave its approval to a bill for providing USD 52 billion in the U.S. as subsidies for the manufacturing of semiconductor chips. The procedural vote of 68-28 returns the legislation to the House of Representatives, starting a lengthy process that will eventually lead to a formal process known as a “conference,” in which politicians from both chambers will be seeking an agreement on a compromised version.
In June, the Senate had first passed the chips legislation and also authorized USD 190 billion for strengthening the research and technical facility of the country so that it can compete with China. In February, the house had passed its version of this bill. The bills propose various ways of addressing the United States’ competitiveness with China on a wide range of topics, including trade and certain climate policies. The decision of the senate was another step that was taken to fortify the country’s supply chains, increase production in the United States, and outperform China as well as the rest of the globe.
Jitendra Singh, MoS Ministry of Earth Sciences, has told Rajya Sabha that a rapid increase in ocean warming has been experienced by the tropical Indian Ocean. It has been observed that there was around a 1-degree Celsius (°C) average rise in sea surface temperature over the period of 1951 to 2015, which is equivalent to 0.15°C per decade.
The Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM) conducted a study that highlighted the dire situation. It showed that 66 Marine Heat Wave events occurred in the western Indian Ocean region and there were 94 events in the Bay of Bengal region between 1982 to 2018.
A report that was released by the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) had issued warnings for India. The report stated that by the end of the century 12 Indian coastal cities that include Chennai, Mumbai, Vishakhapatnam, and Kochi could be submerged.
The milestone of having 50,000 open defecation-free (ODF) Plus villages has been crossed by the country.
In February 2020, the Ministry of Jal Shakti approved the implementation of the Swachh Bharat Mission Grameen Phase-II scheme. Under this programme emphasis is given to the success of Phase I and also adequate facilities are being provided for Solid, Liquid, and plastic Waste Management (SLWM) across rural India. This programme is being implemented from 2020-21 to 2024-25 and has a financial outlay of Rs. 1,40,881 crores.
P V Sindhu won the Swiss Open 2022 defeating Busanan Ongbamrungphan of Thailand in the finals of the Swiss Open Super 300 badminton tournament held in Basel, Switzerland.
HS Prannoy reached the finals in the Men’s Singles format of this tournament and was defeated by Jonatan Christie of Indonesia who is also the Asian Games champion. HS Prannoy appeared in a final for the first time in five years. In 2016 he had won the gold medal in this tournament defeating He Bingjiao of China. In the 2017 US Open Prannoy had last won a title.
In March 2020, during the initial phase of the COVID-19 pandemic, the central government had announced the PMGKAY welfare scheme. Initially, the scheme was planned for a period of 3 months but since then, it has been extended several times. This scheme looked to provide every individual covered under the NFSA with an additional 5 kg of grains (rice or wheat) free of cost, along with the 5 kg of subsidized food grain that is already being provided through the country’s Public Distribution System (PDS).
The 2022 Rashtriya Sanskriti Mahotsav (RSM) was inaugurated under the Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav in the Arts College Ground, Rajamahendravaram, Andhra Pradesh by Biswabhusan Harichandan, the Governor of Andhra Pradesh. G. K Reddy, Union Minister for Culture, Tourism, and DoNER was also part of this launch event.
The RSM-2022’s second leg will be inaugurated on 29th March in Warangal. The second leg will be inaugurated by the Telangana governor, Tamilisai Soundararajan.
From 1st to 3rd April, this Mahotsav’s third leg will be held in Hyderabad.
Under this Mahotsav, a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity is offered to all to see all of the nation’s traditional, folk, classical, tribal, and popular art forms under a single roof. More than 1000 artists perform at this festival. To represent the various regional cultures of the country aangans are set up. The country’s traditional Arts & Crafts are also showcased with various craftsmen setting up stalls to sell and demonstrate their items. Special efforts are made under this festival to select musicians who will be able to demonstrate the region of the host state’s traditional music.
On 29th March 2022, a decentralised waste management technology park will be inaugurated in East Jaffrabad, New Delhi under the Waste to Wealth Mission which is an initiative under the Principal Scientific Adviser to the central government’s office. This park will be launched in association with the East Delhi Municipal Corporation.
In 2018 the work on this project commenced under the mission of “waste to wealth”. This project will segregate municipal solid waste through a semi-automated manner into various components for separate utilization. The park is spread over a 1,000 sq. m area. This space was earlier used for waste collection and open dumping. Through this park, a tonne of compostable elements can be recovered which will be turned into manure, two tonnes of combustible waste will be recovered that can be used for the generation of energy, and 1.5 tonnes of recyclable material will also be recovered. The combustible waste that will be accumulated in this park will be processed on-site using multiple technologies, which will leave only 5 to 10 percent of inert material reaching the landfills.
Five technologies have been piloted in this park including Xaper, an indigenous technology that is semi-automated and segregates fresh municipal solid waste into recycled fractions. An IIT Delhi-built plasma pyrolysis unit that is used for the carbonaceous materials’ thermal disintegration into environment-friendly components has also been implemented in this park.
A technology named Enviro-RISE R-A110, from Denmark, is also being used in this park. This technology will be used to remove all the floating solid waste that will be accumulated in the 52-cusec drain that flows adjacent to the site.
For the purpose of gasification of municipal solid waste, the gasifier will be used. To meet this site’s non-portable and operational water needs, the Johkasou sewage treatment plant has also been set up.
A Draft legislation has been approved by India’s Union Cabinet to provide a regulatory framework for research activities of India in Antarctica and also to protect the continent’s environment.
As of now, India has two fully functioning base stations in Antarctica named Maitri which was established in 1988, and Bharati which was established in 2012. Another one named Dakshin Gangotri was established in 1983 but it is not functional currently.
There are plans to establish another base that will be replacing Maitri as it has outlived its longevity period. The Maitri base needs to be replaced as quickly as possible as it is compromised and even international committees have said that it is no longer environment friendly.
Due to climate change, the oceans are heating up and corals are continuing to bleach which is causing Australia’s Great Barrier Reef’s fish communities to fade and lose their colour, according to a new study.
The study revealed that areas that had a higher concentration of structurally complex corals housed species of fish with more bright and diverse colourations.
Due to global environmental change, the relationship between the colouration of the Great Barrier Reef’s fish communities and the environment is being impacted. Links have been found by researchers between fish and corals that are constantly losing their natural colour.
The green and yellow fish population has dropped at a steady pace by around three quarters over the past 27 years. After the 1998 global coral bleaching event, fish communities’ colouration fell significantly.
According to recent reports, bleaching has again occurred in the Great Barrier Reef with higher-than-average ocean temperatures is being a constant threat to them. Surveillance flights have revealed that minor to severe bleaching has occurred due to heat.
The world’s first wildlife bond has been issued by the World Bank, raising USD 150 million that will partly be used for the conservation of South Africa’s black rhinos.
Globally, there are five species of rhino. Most of the rhinoceros are concentrated in South Africa with most of them being white rhinos. The number of Black rhinos has dropped significantly from 65000 in 1970 to around 2600. These animals are found in three other countries of Africa. They weigh as much as 1.4 tons and are much smaller as compared to the white rhinos.
The issuer, instead of paying a coupon, will be making contributions towards the conservation of the animals. The buyers will be receiving a payment from the Global Environment Facility which will be based on targets that are pre-set for the growth of the animals’ population.
The bond has been structured by Credit Suisse Group AG and it also acted as a joint bookrunner along with Citigroup Inc. This bond was sold for 94.8 per cent of its nominal aggregate amount, with a USD 13.8 million maximum success payout. The program’s success, as well as its payments, will be determined by Conservation Alpha. Zoological Society of London is the verification agent.
The Reserve Bank Innovation Hub (RBIH) has been inaugurated by Shaktikanta Das, governor of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) in Bengaluru.
The aim of the RBIH is to create an ecosystem that will focus on the promotion of access to various financial products and services for the low-income group population across the nation. The RBIH has been set up to nurture and encourage innovations in the financial sector in a sustainable manner. This Hub would also be looking to bring coherence among the stakeholders like the Start-up ecosystem, BFSI Sector, Academia and Regulators in the nation’s financial innovation field.
The RBIH also has the objective of bringing world-class innovation to the country’s financial sector along with working towards the theme of financial inclusion.
The Hub will also be looking to mentor and identify various start-ups. It will also collaborate with government Departments, Ministries to identify and resolve challenges in different domains.
In the Conference of Parties (COP-4) Minamata Convention on Mercury, the participating parties have agreed to expand the mercury-added products list that has been planned to be phased out.
This convention aims to protect the environment and human health from the release of mercury, and anthropogenic emissions.
In this convention, the phasing out of eight mercury-added products like cold cathode fluorescent lamps, compact fluorescent lamps, paper, photograph film, and propellant for satellites was listed. The dental amalgam phase-down has also benefitted substantially after two additional measures were added to protect the vulnerable populations against mercury use by dental practitioners in bulk form.
The “Bali Declaration on Combatting Global Illegal Trade of Mercury” was also presented by the host nation. This political declaration of non-binding nature aims to develop practical tools and enhance international cooperation to share and monitor information, practices, and experiences to combat the illegal mercury trade.
The framework that is related to geo-tagging of payment system touch points has been released by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).
This framework has been created as a part of RBI’s objective of deepening digital payments along with providing access to such services to all the citizens of India.
This system will help in monitoring the availability of various payment acceptance infrastructure such as Quick Response (QR) codes, Points of Sale (PoS) terminals, etc. Doing so will allow monitoring that will support various policy interventions to help optimize payment infrastructure distribution. To achieve the above objectives, it is of utmost importance to have a robust payment acceptance infrastructure available across the country.
Geo-tagging will help capture the payment touch points geographical coordinates. The major benefit of geo-tagging is that it will be providing insights into the digital systems’ regional penetration. It will also further help in monitoring the density of infrastructure across several locations. Along with this, geo-tagging will help in identifying the scopes available for the deployment of additional payment touch points. It will also help in improving digital literacy programmes across the country.
Under the newly announced framework, Banks, as well as Non-bank Payments System Operators (PSOs), will be capturing and maintaining the geographical coordinates of all payment touch points. Along with this, geo-tagging of Paper-based, Soft QR Codes and PoS terminals should be submitted to RBI.
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