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NATIONAL AFFAIRS
NITI Aayog and CSIRO launched Climate Smart Agritech RISE Accelerator Program for Startups and MSMEs
On 19th August 2024, the National Institution for Transforming India (NITI Aayog)’s backed- Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) in collaboration with the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), an arm of Government of Australia has launched the Climate Smart Agritech cohort of the India-Australia Rapid Innovation and Startup Expansion (RISE) Accelerator program and has invited applications from startups and Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) for the program.
- Aim: To harness cutting-edge technologies and digital solutions to address climate challenges in agriculture and promote cross-border innovation.
- The cohort is designed specifically to provide support to startups and MSMEs working with technologies and solutions that improve agricultural productivity and resilience.
Key Points:
i.The program will commence in October 2024 and the last date to submit the applications for the RISE Accelerator program is 15th September, 2024.
ii.This programme will focus mainly on agritech startups and MSMEs that provide solutions to the needs of farmers, priorities and on-farm practices.
iii.The duration of the program will of 9 months, during that period, the selected startups and MSMEs will benefit from series of self-paced online learning and in-person sessions, including immersion weeks in both India and Australia.
- These sessions will provide in-depth market information, as one-on-one coaching, and mentorship from subject matter experts and industry professionals.
- The program will provide connections with potential partners and customers which will boost the chances of success in new markets.
iv.There is no charge for startups and SMEs to participate in the program, with ample opportunities for selected SMEs and Startups to travel between Australia and India.
v.The selected SMEs and Startups will also be eligible for up to Rs 45 lakhs in non-equity grant.
About RISE Accelerator Program:
i.It is a bilateral program to address the shared challenges with a focus on environment and climate change by supporting the expansion of innovative agritech solutions across borders.
ii.It was launched in 2023 and has played a pivotal role in supporting startups and MSMEs in validating, adapting, and piloting their technologies for new markets.
About National Institution for Transforming India (NITI Aayog):
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) – B.V.R. Subrahmanyam
Headquarters- New Delhi, Delhi
Established – 2015
Lok Sabha Speaker Constitutes 6 New Parliamentary Committees for 2024-25
Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla constituted 6 new Parliamentary Committees for 2024-25, including the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), Committee on Estimates(CoE) , Committee on Public Undertakings(CoPU) and committees focused on the welfare of Other Backward Classes (OBCs), Scheduled Castes (SCs), and Scheduled Tribes (STs).
- All the committees formed in the 18th Lok Sabha have a tenure of 1 year and have members from both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha.
Public Accounts Committee (PAC):
i.The PAC is crucial for monitoring government expenditures and reviewing Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) reports.
- It was established in 1964 based on the recommendations of the Krishna Menon Committee.
ii.It will be chaired by K.C. Venugopal, a senior Indian National Congress (INC) leader and a Member of Parliament (MP), Rajasthan.
iii.It consists of 22 members, 15 elected by Lok Sabha, the lower house of the Parliament, and not more than 7 members of Rajya Sabha, the upper house of the Parliament.
Committee on Estimates(CoE):
i.The Committee on Estimates will be chaired by Dr Sanjay Jaiswal, an MP of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Paschim Champaran , Bihar.
ii.The committee constituted for the first time in 1950, consisting of 30 members from Lok Sabha (Lower House).
iii.It will examines budget estimates for administrative departments and suggests efficiency improvements.
Committee on Public Undertakings(CoPU):
i.The Committee on Public Undertakings will be chaired by Baijyant Panda, a BJP Lok Sabha MP from Kendrapara, Odisha.
- The CoPU was first formed in 1964, following a motion proposed by Minister of Commerce and Industry Nityanand Kanungo in September 1963.
ii.It consists of 22 members, 15 elected by Lok Sabha, the lower house of the Parliament, and 7 members by the Rajya Sabha, the upper house of the Parliament.
iii.Its function is to examine the performance of the Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) and assess the impact of PSUs on the economy.
Welfare Committees:
i.The Committee on Welfare of Other Backward Classes (OBCs) will be chaired by Ganesh Singh, a BJP MP from Satna, Madhya Pradesh(MP).
- The function of the committee is to consider reports from the National Commission for Backward Classes (NCBC) and reviewing welfare measures for OBCs.
- It was first constituted in 2012 and the committee is made up of 30 members, 20 from Lok Sabha and 10 from Rajya Sabha
ii.The Committee on the Welfare of Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs) will be chaired by Dr Faggan Singh Kulaste, BJP Lok Sabha MP from Mandla,MP.
- The Committee reviews the implementation of welfare programs and other measures for the SCs and STs.
- It was first formed in 1968 and consists of 20 Members elected by the Lok Sabha; 10 Members of Rajya Sabha are also associated with it
Udaan partners with MOCAF&PD, SIDBI to Transform FPS into Jan Poshan Kendras
Udaan, a B2B (Business to Business) e-commerce company, has partnered with the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution (MOCAF&PD), and the Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) to transform Fair Price Shops (FPSs) into Jan Poshan Kendras (JPK).
- This partnership aims to enhance the income of FPS dealers and improve the portfolio of products offered by these shops.
- The pilot has been launched across 60 selected FPSs from Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh (UP), Telangana, and Gujarat.
Key People:
The initiative was launched in the presence of Union Minister Pralhad Joshi, MOCAF&PD; Manoj Mittal, Chairman and Managing Director (CMD), SIDBI; and Vaibhav Gupta, co-founder and CEO, Udaan.
About the Partnership:
i.Under this partnership, Jan Poshan Kendras will receive credit facilities from SIDBI to purchase food grains and Fast-Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) products, and access to over 3,500 products through Udaan’s eB2B platform.
ii.JPKs will allocate 50% of their stock to nutritional products, with the remainder for household items.
iii.The initiative aims to eventually modernize 1.3 lakh shops, with a long-term goal of converting all 5.38 lakh ration shops into JPK.
Other Launches:
The Union Minister also launched the following initiatives to further strengthen the food security ecosystem, enhance transparency, ensure strict quality control, curb malnutrition, and prevent leakages in the system:
i.The FPS Sahay application for paperless, collateral-free financing for ration dealers.
ii.Mera Ration App 2.0 to assist consumers with information about the public distribution system.
iii.Initiatives for quality control and transparency in the food security ecosystem viz. Quality Management System, Quality Manual Handbook, Contract Manual FCI (Food Corporation of India) and National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL)’s accreditation of three laboratories.
About Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI):
SIDBI, established on 2nd April 1990 under an Act of Indian Parliament, acts as the Principal Financial Institution for Promotion, Financing and Development of the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise (MSME) sector.
Chairman & Managing Director (CMD)– Manoj Mittal
Headquarters– Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh (UP)
NEHHDC Secures Oeko-Tex Certification For Eri Silk
Guwahati (Assam) based North Eastern Handicrafts and Handlooms Development Corporation Limited (NEHHDC) under the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (MDoNER) has secured Oeko-Tex certification directly from Germany for the Eri Silk of Assam.
- The Oeko-Tex certification standard 100 ensures textiles are tested for harmful substances and produced in eco-friendly conditions.
i.Eri Silk is renowned as the world’s only vegan silk due to its ethical manufacturing process. This eco-friendly process makes Eri Silk, a symbol of compassion and sustainability in the textile industry.
ii.This achievement further strengthens the silk’s status as Assam’s Geographical Indication (GI) product, emphasising its authenticity and regional relevance.
iii.This certification is a crucial step toward expanding Eri Silk’s presence in the global export market; and enhances the silk’s international appeal and positions it as a leading eco-friendly fabric.
Note: The International Association for Research and Testing in the Field of Textile and Leather Ecology (Oeko-Tex) is headquartered in Zurich, Switzerland. It consists of independent textile and leather testing institutes in Europe and Japan, with offices in more than 70 countries.
INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS
UAE Joins BRICS Partners To Launch Centre for Industrial Competences
The Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology (MoIAT) of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has joined with BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) partners to launch a Centre for Industrial Competences in cooperation with the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) to support the development of Industrial skills and capabilities.
i.The declaration was made at the 8th BRICS Industry Ministers Meeting chaired by Russia under the theme ‘Strengthening Multilateralism for Equitable Global Development and Security’ in Nizhny Novgorod, Russia.
- The 9th BRICS Industry Ministers Meeting will be hosted by Brazil in 2025.
ii.The new centre will contribute to the New Industrial Revolution (NIR) framework by addressing issues, and opportunities in the growing industrial sector and also help to develop industrial skills across member countries.
iii.The declaration outlines for the development of working groups in areas such as chemicals, metals, Small and Medium-sized Enterprise (SMEs), smart manufacturing, and clean technology.
iv.The BRICS members also committed to cooperate on industrial policy to support the United Nations (UN)’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 9 on industry, innovation, and infrastructure.
v.The declaration recognizes the PartNIR (Partnership on New Industrial Revolution) Innovation Centre’s role in policy coordination, personnel training, and project development.
Note: The BRICS now holding a total 35% of the world’s GDP and it expects to increase to 45% by 2040.
BANKING & FINANCE
NPCI Launched “UPI Circle” for Secure Delegated Payments with Trusted Users
The National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) has launched a new “UPI Circle” feature on its Unified Payments Interface (UPI) platform. This new feature will enable the primary UPI account holders to securely delegate payment responsibilities to trusted secondary users.
- The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) introduced the feature during the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting held in August 2024.
- This aims to enhance convenience and security in digital transactions across India.
About UPI Circle:
i.It is a delegated payment feature that will enable a primary UPI user to link with trusted secondary users by granting them partial or complete access to their account for making payments.
- Primary user – Account holder who starts the circle and controls the delegation.
- Secondary user – A trusted individual who has been granted partial or complete access to account for making payments.
ii.UPI Circle enables 2 types of delegation:
- Full Delegation: The primary users authorizes secondary user to start and complete transactions within predefined spending limits for which they are not required to seek further approval.
- Partial Delegation: The secondary user can start transactions, but the primary user must authorise and complete the payment using their UPI Personal Identification Number (PIN).
Key Guidelines:
i.A primary user can delegate maximum 5 secondary users and a secondary user can accept delegation from only one primary user.
- Members are required to ensure that the primary authorizes the secondary user on either complete or partial delegation.
ii.For full delegation, members shall ensure a maximum monthly limit of Rs 15,000 per delegation and maximum transaction limit of Rs 5,000.
- The existing UPI limits will be applicable in case of partial delegation.
iii.NPCI has mandated the members to ensure that the primary user has visibility of transactions performed by secondary users on their UPI application (app) and bank account statement.
iv.Members are required to comply with the RBI guidelines on ‘Harmonisation of Turn Around Time’ and customer compensation for failed transactions using authorised payment systems.
About National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI):
NPCI regulates the retail payment and settlement system in India. It was launched as a joint initiative of RBI and India Banks’ Association (IBA).
Managing Director (MD) & Chief Executive Officer (CEO) – Dilip Asbe
Headquarters- Mumbai, Maharashtra
Established- 2008
WB Issues World’s 1st Carbon Removal Bond of USD 225 Million to Fund Amazon Reforestation
On 20th August 2024, International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD), the lending arm of the World Bank, issued the USD 225 million, principal-protected Amazon Reforestation-Linked Outcome Bond. The 9 year bond was priced on 13th August 2024 and is set to mature on 31st July 2033.
- Financial returns are linked to the generation of Carbon Removal Units (CRUs) from reforestation projects in Brazil’s Amazon rainforest, marking the 1st bond linking investors’ financial return to the removal of carbon from the atmosphere.
- The issue has a minimum guaranteed annual return of about 1.745%, and up to 4.362% if the projects perform as expected.
- Approximately USD 36 million of additional capital is mobilized from investors to fund the reforestation activities of Mombak, a Brazilian based company.
Note: Mombak seeks to build the largest carbon removal projects in the world, starting by reforesting the Amazon rainforest.
AWARDS & RECOGNITIONS
President of India confers National Geoscience Awards 2023 on 21 Geoscientists
On August 20, 2024, the President of India Droupadi Murmu conferred the National Geoscience Awards (NGA) for 2023 of the Ministry of Mines on 21 Geoscientists during a ceremony organized at Rashtrapati Bhavan Cultural Centre in New Delhi, Delhi.
i.It was attended by Union Minister Gangapuram Kishan Reddy, Ministry of Mines(MoM), Minister of State (MoS) Satish Chandra Dubey, MoM, Asit Saha, Director General(DG), Geological Survey of India (GSI) along with other senior officials.
ii.A total of 12 awards to 21 Geoscientists, including academicians and professionals from across the country, were honoured under three categories: National Geoscience Award for Lifetime Achievement, National Geoscience Award, and National Young Geoscientist Award.
iii.The National Geoscience Award for Lifetime Achievement was bestowed upon Prof. Dhiraj Mohan Banerjee, an Emeritus Scientist at the Indian National Science Academy (INSA) for his pioneering research on phosphorites, isotope geology, and organic geochemistry of Precambrian sedimentary rocks in India.
About Geological Survey of India (GSI):
Director General– Asit Saha
Headquartered– Kolkata, West Bengal (WB)
Establishment– 1851
>> Read Full News
APPOINTMENTS & RESIGNATIONS
Centre Approves Senior-Level Bureaucratic Reshuffles & Appointments in Various Departments across Various Ministries
The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) headed by the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, approved a series of postings in various departments and ministries.
ii.The ACC has also approved in-situ upgradation of 2 officials to the level of Special Secretary in the rank and pay of Secretary.
- Sunil Paliwal, a 1993 batch Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer of the Tamil Nadu (TN) Cadre, as Chairman of the Chennai Port Trust (CPT) in Chennai, TN.
- Vikram Dev Dutt, a 1993 batch IAS officer of the AGMUT cadre, as the Director General(DG) of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA).
Sanjiv Ranjan to be Secretary General of IORA Secretariat for 3 Years from January 2025
The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC), chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved the proposal of the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) to enable Sanjiv Ranjan to take up the assignment as the Secretary General (SG) of the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) Secretariat in Mauritius for a 3-year tenure with effect from 1st January 2025.
- This includes his period upto his superannuation (31st January 2026), or until further orders, whichever is earlier.
- He will succeed Salman Al Farisi (Indonesia), the incumbent SG of IORA Secretariat, who took charge in January 2022 for a 3 year term(till 2024).
About Sanjiv Ranjan:
i.Sanjiv Ranjan is a 1993-batch Indian Foreign Service (IFS) officer.
ii.Between 1995 and 2009, he held diplomatic positions in Indian Embassies in Madrid (Spain), Lima (Peru), and the Permanent Mission of India, New York, the United States of America (USA).
iii.He served as Deputy High Commissioner of India to Mauritius from 2006 to 2009.
iv.He served as Director (North) of the MEA from 2009 to 2012 and as Joint Secretary of the newly established Development Partnership Administration (DPA), a program of the MEA.
vi.He also served as Coordinator of the 3rd India-Africa Forum Summit held in 2015 in New Delhi, Delhi.
vii.He served as Ambassador of India to Argentina with concurrent accreditation to Uruguay and Paraguay from 2016 to 2019.
- He also served as Ambassador of India to Colombia with concurrent accreditation to Ecuador, from 2019 to 2022.
viii.He is currently serving as Additional Secretary (Administration) and Dean of the Sushma Swaraj Institute of Foreign Service (SSIFS), since 2022.
- SSIFS was established in 1986 by the Government of India (GoI) to cater to the professional training needs of the IFS and the MEA, New Delhi, Delhi.
About the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA):
The IORA, formerly known as the Indian Ocean Rim Association for Regional Co-operation (IOR-ARC), is an inter-governmental organisation.
IORA became an observer to the United NAtions General Assembly (UNGA) and the African Union (AU) in 2015.
Secretary–General– Salman Al Farisi
Headquarters– Cyber City, Ebène, Mauritius
Members– 23 Member States and 12 Dialogue Partners
Establishment– 7 March 1997
OBITUARY
Former Meghalaya CM Salseng Marak Passed Away
Salseng Chada Marak, Former Chief Minister (CM) of Meghalaya (1993 to 1998) passed away at the age of 83 in Tura, Meghalaya. He was born in 1941 in Baghmara, Assam Province, British India.
He was the first CM of Meghalaya to complete a full 5-year term. He also served as CM of Meghalaya in 1998 for 12 days when the Congress-led coalition collapsed.
- He was 1st elected to the 1st Meghalaya Legislative Assembly in 1972 following the creation of the Meghalaya state on January 21, 1972.
- He later joined the Indian National Congress (INC) party in 1976 and represented the Resubelpara assembly constituency in North Garo Hills in Meghalaya.
- He has also served as the president of the Meghalaya Pradesh Congress Committee in 2003.
IMPORTANT DAYS
World Sanskrit Day 2024 – August 19 
World Sanskrit Day, also known as International Sanskrit Day/Sanskrit Diwas/ Vishwa Samskrita Dinam, is annually observed on the full moon day of the Hindu calendar month of Shravan or Sawan month. The day aims to promote Sanskrit, one of India’s most ancient languages.
- World Sanskrit Day 2024 was observed on August 19 2024.
Background:
i.In 1969, The Ministry of Education (MoE), Government of India (GoI) instructed to celebrate Sanskrit Diwas at the central and state levels across India.
ii.The first World Sanskrit Day was celebrated in 1969.
International Day of Remembrance and Tribute to the Victims of Terrorism 2024 – August 21
The United Nations (UN)’s International Day of Remembrance and Tribute to the Victims of Terrorism is annually observed across the globe on 21st August to honour the victims, support the survivors of terrorism. The day also promote human rights and fundamental freedom.
- 21st August 2024 marks the 7th commemoration of the International Day of Remembrance and Tribute to the Victims of Terrorism.
Theme of International Day of Remembrance and Tribute to the Victims of Terrorism 2024 is, “Voices for Peace: Victims of Terrorism as Peace Advocates and Educators”.
Background:
i.On 19 December 2017, the UN General Assembly (UNGA) adopted the resolution A/RES/72/165, proclaiming 21 August of every year as the International Day of Remembrance of and Tribute to the Victims of Terrorism.
ii.The 1st International Day of Remembrance of and Tribute to the Victims of Terrorism was observed on 21 August 2018.
About the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT):
The UNOCT was established on 15 June 2017
Under-Secretary-General– Mr. Vladimir Voronkov
Headquarters– New York, the United States of America (USA)
>> Read Full News
World Senior Citizen’s Day 2024 – August 21
World Senior Citizen’s Day is annually observed across the globe on 21st August to honour and recognise the contributions of senior citizens to society and highlight the challenges they face, such as healthcare, elder abuse, social isolation, etc.
i.The day reminds families and communities to appreciate and support their older members, ensuring they are treated with dignity and respect.
ii.On 19 August 1988, Ronald Reagan, the 40th President of the United States of America (USA), signed Proclamation 5847, designating August 21 as “National Senior Citizens Day.”
>> Read Full News
STATE NEWS
Mukhyamantri Bal Paushtik Aahar Yojana: Himachal CM Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu Launched Nutritional Scheme for School Children
On 18th August 2024, Himachal Pradesh(HP) Chief Minister(CM) Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu launched the Mukhyamantri Bal Paushtik Aahar Yojana(MBPAY) to provide nutritious food to children in government-run schools.
The scheme was launched during an event held in Hamirpur, Himachal Pradesh(HP).
About Mukhyamantri Bal Paushtik Aahar Yojana(MBPAY):
i.The state government has allocated an additional Rs 12.75 crore for the scheme in the current fiscal (FY25)
ii.This scheme provides nutrition to 5.34 lakh school children, who are benefitting from the midday meal scheme.
iii.Under the scheme, school children will be provided boiled eggs or fruits once a week.
- The fruits will be sourced from local markets based students preferences.
Additional info:
The CM also informed that 17,510 primary school teachers would receive tablets as a part of the government’s efforts to promote digitisation in educational and administrative processes.
About Himachal Pradesh(HP):
Chief Minister(CM) – Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu
Governor – Shiv Pratap Shukla
Wildlife Sanctuaries – Bandli Wildlife Sanctuary, Kanawar Wildlife Sanctuary
National Parks – Great Himalayan National Park, Pin Valley National Park
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