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NATIONAL AFFAIRS
28th Conference of Central and State Statistical Organizations held in New Delhi
28th Conference of Central and State Statistical Organizations (COCSSO), organised by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI), was held at Dr. Ambedkar International Centre, Janpath, New Delhi, Delhi from 12th to 13th August 2024.
- The conference was inaugurated by Union Minister of State (MoS) (Independent Charge) Rao Inderjit Singh, MOSPI.
- The theme of discussion of the conference was “Use of Data for Decision Making: Strengthening State Statistical Systems”.
- The conference provided a platform for discussion and coordination between Central and State Statistical Organizations to enhance the efficiency of the Indian Statistical System through collaboration.
- “Women and Men in India, 2023”, the 25th issue of the annual publication ‘Women and Men in India’ by MoSPI, was released during the conference.
About Ministry of Statistics & Programme Implementation (MoSPI):
MoSPI came into existence as an Independent Ministry in 1999 after the merger of the Department of Statistics and the Department of Programme Implementation
Minister of State (MoS)– Rao Inderjit Singh (Constituency- Gurugram, Haryana)
>> Read Full News
3 Indian Ocean Structures Has Been Named as Ashoka seamount, the Chandragupt ridge & Kalpataru ridge
The International Hydrographic Organization (IHO) and Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) of UNESCO(United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization), have named three underwater geographical structures located in the Indian Ocean as Ashoka seamount, the Chandragupt ridge, and Kalpataru ridge.
- The names of the structure were proposed by India to IHO and IOC.
- Ashoka seamount and the Chandragupt ridge are named after the Mauryan dynasty rulers Ashoka and Chandragupta Maurya, respectively.
i.These three structures were discovered by oceanographers from the National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR), Goa.
ii.These structures, located along the Southwest Indian Ridge area of the Indian Ocean, were discovered during the Indian Southern Ocean Research Programme.
About International Hydrographic Organization (IHO):
IHO is an intergovernmental organization established in 1921.
Secretary-General– Dr Mathias Jonas (Germany)
Secretariat– Monaco
Members states– 100 (including India)
>> Read Full News
India & USA Signed MoU to Promote Cooperation on Small & Medium Enterprises
The Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MoMSME), Government of India (GoI) and the Small Business Administration (SBA) of the Government of the United States of America (USA) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to promote cooperation on Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs), in New Delhi, Delhi.
- The MoU provides a framework for discussing issues concerning MSMEs and explores possibilities of cooperation between the two countries in this sector.
Note: This MoU follows the direction given in the India-USA Joint Statement of June 2023.
Signatories:
The MoU was signed between Subhas Chandra Lal Das, Secretary of the MoMSME,GoI and Isabel Casillas Guzman, Administrator, SBA, Government of the USA.
Key Areas of Cooperation:
i.The MoU focuses on improving MSME participation in the global marketplace through mutual visits, webinars, and workshops.
- The key topics include access to trade and export finance, technology, and digital trade, green economy, and trade facilitation.
ii.It also provides joint programs to empower women entrepreneurs and enhance trade partnerships between Women-Owned Small Businesses (WOSBs) in India and the USA.
iii.The two nations also agreed to explore the development of a “Business Matching Digital Platform”, recognising the importance of MSMEs in promoting inclusive growth, expanding exports, and increasing employment in both countries.
About the United States of America (USA):
Capital– Washington, D.C.
President– Joe Biden
Currency– United States Dollar (USD)
MoPNG Approves ONGC to Invest Rs 10,501 Cr in OPaL
The Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas (MoPNG), Government of India(GoI) has granted an approval letter to Oil & Natural Gas Corporation Limited (ONGC), a Maharatna Central Public Sector Enterprise (CPSE) under the MoPNG, to invest an additional equity capital of up to Rs 10,501 crore in ONGC Petro additions Limited (OPaL), Vadodara(Gujarat).
- The OPaL is a Joint Venture (JV) between the ONGC, the Gas Authority of India (GAIL), and the Gujarat State Petroleum Corporation Limited (GSPC).
i.The GoI has also approved the conversion of back-stopped Compulsorily Convertible Debentures (CCDs) worth Rs 7,778 crore and a balance payment of Rs 86 crore related to share warrants, totaling Rs 18,365 crore.
ii.This will increase the status of OPaL into a subsidiary of ONGC with a 95.69% equity stake from 49.36% equity stake.
iii.The government has also allocated 50% of the annual gas production from ONGC’s new wells or up to 3.2 Million Metric Standard Cubic Meters per Day (MMSCMD) of domestic natural gas.
INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS
ILO’s GET for Youth 2024: Youth Unemployment Rate fell to 13% in 2023, lowest in 15 years
According to International Labour Organisation (ILO)’s report titled “Global Employment Trends (GET) for Youth 2024: Decent work, brighter futures”, Global Youth Unemployment Rate (YUR) in 2023 decreased to 13% which represents a 15-year low and a fall from the pre-pandemic rate of 13.8% in 2019.
- Globally, a total 64.9 million young people were unemployed in 2023, the lowest since the start of the millennium.
- The global YUR is expected to further decrease to 12.8% in 2024 and 2025.
- The 2024 report marks the 12th edition of the GET for Youth report which was first issued in 2004. This also marks the 20th anniversary of the publication of GET for Youth.
About International Labour Organisation (ILO):
Director-General (DG) – Gilbert Fossoun Houngbo
Headquarter– Geneva, Switzerland
Member nations– 187
Established– 1919
>> Read Full News
BANKING & FINANCE
USA accounts for Highest FPI investment in India: SEBI Report
According to a report by the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), the United States of America(USA) led the Foreign Portfolio Investment (FPI) in India for the Fiscal Year 2023-24 (FY24), with 3,457 registered FPIs. It is followed by Luxembourg with 1,393 and Canada with 804.
- As of March 31, 2024, the total number of FPIs in India increased to 11,219 registered FPIs from 11,081 in FY23.
- The FY24 saw the highest FPI inflows into India since 1992-93.
Highlights:
i.The report analyzed the country-wise distribution of FPIs and their Assets Under Custody (AUC), representing the total value of assets managed by FPIs held by custodians.
ii.By March 31, 2024, the AUC of FPIs increased by 42.8%, rising to Rs 69.5 lakh crore from Rs 48.7 lakh crore at the end of March 31, 2023, reflecting growing foreign investor confidence in India.
iii.Equity assets constituted 92.2% of the total AUC and the highest contributions to these equity assets came from the USA, which accounted for 39.2 % of the total, followed by Singapore at 9.8%, and Luxembourg at 7.1%.
RBI Constituted 10 member Expert Committee to Benchmark its Statistics with Global Standards
On 12th August 2024, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has constituted a 10 member expert committee chaired by Dr. Michael Debabrata Patra, Deputy Governor of RBI, to benchmark its regularly disseminated statistics against global standards and best practices.
- The expert committee will submit its report by the end of November 2024.
Note: The key statistics released by the RBI, include the Consumer Confidence Survey (CCS), Balance of Payments (BoP), Foreign Trade Statistics(FTS), India’s External Debt, and the Handbook of Statistics on the Indian Economy etc.
Purpose:
i.The committee has been entrusted with the responsibility to assess the quality of other routine data in sectors where benchmarks are absent (for example: sectors of national security).
ii.The committee will provide guidance on potential areas for further data refinement.
Members:
Apart from chairman, other 9 members of the expert committee are:
i.Dr. O.P. Mall, Executive Director (ED) of RBI has been appointed as the convener of the committee.
ii.R.B Barman, former Chairman of National Statistical Commission (NSC),
iii.Sonalde Desai, Professor and Director at National Data Innovation Centre (NDIC) of New Delhi (Delhi)-based National Council of Applied Economic Research (NCAER),
iv.Dr. Partha Ray, Director, Pune (Maharashtra)-based National Institute of Bank Management (NIBM),
v.Professor Bimal Roy, former Chairman of NSC and former Director of Indian Statistical Institute (ISI)in Kolkata, West Bengal (WB),
vi.Dr. Paul Schreyer, former statistician, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD); and Sudarshan Sen, former Executive Director of RBI,
vii.Dr. Bruno Tissot, head of statistics and research support, Basel (Switzerland)-based Bank for International Settlement (BIS); and Muneesh Kapur, ED of RBI.
About Reserve Bank of India(RBI):
Governor– Shaktikanta Das(25th Governor of RBI)
Headquarter– Mumbai, Maharashtra
Established– 1 April, 1935
NPCI incorporates NPCI BHIM Services Ltd as a Wholly-Owned Subsidiary
The National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) has incorporated NPCI BHIM Services Limited(NBSL), formerly known as Bharat Interface for Money(BHIM), as a wholly-owned subsidiary.
- NBSL will be led by the former banker Lalitha Nataraj as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Rahul Handa as the Chief Business Officer (CBO).
Key Points:
i.The creation of NBSL aims to address the increasing demand for digital transactions, meet evolving market expectations, and enhance financial inclusion.
ii.NBSL emphasizes NPCI’s commitment to promoting digital payments and financial inclusion both in India and globally.
About BHIM app:
The BHIM app, developed by NPCI and launched by Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi in 2016, allows users to make direct bank payments and request money via the Unified Payments Interface (UPI).
Note: In 2021, NPCI transferred Bharat Bill Payment System(BBPS) transaction mandates to a new subsidiary called NPCI Bharat BillPay Limited(NBBL), hiving off its automated bill payment business from the umbrella body.
About National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI):
Managing Director (MD) & Chief Executive Officer (CEO)– Dilip Asbe
Headquarters– Mumbai, Maharashtra
Establishment– 2008
AWARDS & RECOGNITIONS
TIAL Receives Greentech Award For Zero Waste To Landfill
Thiruvananthapuram International Airport Limited (TIAL) has received the prestigious ‘Pollution Control Waste Management & Recycling (PCWR) Award 2024’ by Greentech Foundation in the field of waste management and processing.
- The airport authorities received the award during the Greentech PCWR 2024 Summit, Awards and Expo held in Guwahati, Assam.
i.The award recognises the airports excellence in ‘zero waste to landfill’ implementation undertaken by the TIAL.
ii.The waste generation patterns and management practices at TIAL are on the basis of the cradle-to-cradle concept.
iii.The airport’s landfill diversion rate has achieved 99.50% as a result of sustainable waste management practices such as waste reduction, reuse, recycling, and recovery. The airport processes 100% of plastic and solid waste.
iv.It has an International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 14001:2015 certified waste management system which includes unique mechanisms for collecting separated waste at the airport and transporting it to the recycling yard.
Note: TIAL is managed by Adani Airport Holdings Limited (AAHL), a subsidiary of Adani Enterprises, the flagship company of the globally diversified Adani Group. It is located at Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala.
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
India to Begin Production of LCA Mark2 Jets by 2029 & 5th Generation Fighter AMCA by 2035
The 4.5 generation plus Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Mark 2 fighter jets are scheduled to start flying by March 2026, with full-scale production expected to begin by 2029. It was announced during a high-level review meeting of the LCA MK-II Development programme held at DRDO Bhawan, New Delhi(Delhi).
- The meeting was headed by Dr Samir V Kamat, Chairman of Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit, Deputy Chief of the Air Staff (DCAS), Indian Air Force (IAF)
- In addition, the mass production of the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA), a 5th-generation fighter, is anticipated to start by 2035.
i.All the LCA aircraft will be powered by American General Electric(GE) engines. While the LCA Mark 1 and Mark 1A will be powered by the GE-404 engine, the LCA Mark 2 will be powered by the GE-414 engine, which will be manufactured in India by the American firm with indigenous content.
ii.The IAF has ordered 180 LCA Mark 1A jets, with production expected to finish by 2032. It is planned to be deployed at the Nal Airbase in Bikaner, Rajasthan.
iii.The LCA Mark 2 will be equipped with Indigenous weapons like the Astra air-to-air missile and Smart Anti-Airfield Weapons (SAAWs).
iv.LCA Mark 2 jets are planned to replace Mirage 2000, Jaguar, and MiG-29 fleets over the next 10-15 years. It is currently under development by the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL).
ENVIRONMENT
Coridius adii, Coridius insperatus, & Coridius esculentus: 3 New Edible Bug Species Discovered in Arunachal Pradesh
A team of entomologists discovered 3 new species of edible stink bugs, in Arunachal Pradesh. These bugs belong to the genus Coridius of the family Dinidoridae (Hemiptera) and have been named Coridius adii, Coridius insperatus, and Coridius esculentus.
- The findings of the new species were published in the peer-reviewed open-access journal PLOS One.
About Coridius:
i.The genus Coridius is economically important, as species of this genus are widely consumed by the Indigenous people of northeast India.
ii.Coridius bugs are relatively large, ranging from 15 millimeters (mm) to 25 mm in size, and mainly feed on plant sap.
Note: Entomophagy, or the practice of eating insects, is an age-old tradition that is widely practiced in Northeast India.
Coridius adii
i.Coridius adii is named after the Adi tribe, one of the populous groups of Arunachal Pradesh, inhabiting mainly the Siang valley, who consume it as food.
ii.The insect is described as pale brown to dark brown with irregular yellow patches on its upper body.
Coridius insperatus
i.Coridius insperatus is distinct from all other species in the group, with unique features, including 4-segmented antennae and a copper-coloured back.
- Other similar bugs have 5-segmented antennae and are dark brown, yellow, or black on top.
ii.This species is consumed by the Nyishi and Adi tribes of Arunachal Pradesh.
iii.This species is sold in the Nirjuli local market in Itanagar, Arunachal Pradesh, during the winter season (October–January).
Coridius esculentus:
i.Coridius esculentus species is a delicacy among ethnic communities.
ii.The consumption of this bug is found to have neurotoxic effects. The affected person will become photophobic (having an extreme sensitivity to light).
- The chemicals secreted by the bugs through the metathoracic glands might be the reason for intoxication.
Research Team:
i.The research team comprised of Priyadarsanan Dharma Rajan, a senior fellow (Team Lead), Swapnil Boyane, Sandeep Sen, Nikhil U. Joshi, and Pavan Kumar Thunga from Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment (ATREE), Bengaluru (Karnataka), and Hemant Ghate from Modern College of Arts Commerce and Science in Pune (Maharashtra).
ii.The research was supported by the Department of Biotechnology (DBT), under the Ministry of Science and Technology (MoST) as part of a research project titled Bio-resource and Sustainable Livelihoods in North-East India
BOOKS & AUTHORS
Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman Harivansh Releases a Book Titled ‘Bharat ke 75 mahan krantikari’
Harivansh Narayan Singh, the Deputy Chairman of Rajya Sabha (Bihar) has released the book titled ‘Bharat ke 75 mahan krantikari’ (75 Great Revolutionaries of India) in New Delhi, Delhi.
- The book was written by Bhim Singh, Member of Parliament (MP), Rajya Sabha (Bihar).
- The book chronicles the lives of many revolutionary freedom fighters like Tantia Bhil, Surya Sen, Pritilata Waddedar and Permanand Jhansi, who have not been remembered much.
IMPORTANT DAYS
World Organ Donation Day 2024 – August 13
World Organ Donation Day is annually observed across the globe on 13 August to raise awareness about the importance of organ donation, encourage people to become organ donors, and promote organ donation to save lives.
- The theme/slogan for World Organ Donation Day 2024 is, “Be the Reason for Someone’s Smile Today!”
Background:
i.The world’s 1st successful living donor kidney transplant was performed in 1954 by American surgeon Dr. Joseph E. Murray in the United States of America (USA).
- The transplant took place between identical twins, Ronald and Richard Lee Herrick, with Ronald donating a kidney to Richard, who had chronic kidney failure.
ii.Joseph E. Murray was jointly awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1990 with American physician E. Donnall Thomas “for their discoveries concerning organ and cell transplantation in the treatment of human disease.”
>> Read Full News
International Left-Handers Day 2024 – August 13
International Left-Handers Day is annually observed across the globe on 13 August to celebrate left-handers and the uniqueness, advantages, and disadvantages of being left-handed.
- 13 August 2024 marks the observance of the 33rd International Left-Handers Day.
Background:
i.The 1st International Lefthanders Day was celebrated in 1976, initiated by Dean Robert Campbell, former American Army Captain, and the founder of Lefthanders International, Inc.
ii.The Day has been globally recognised when the Left-Handers Club launched International Left-Handers Day on 13th August 1992.
>> Read Full News
Partition Horrors Remembrance Day 2024 – August 14
Partition Horrors Remembrance Day(in Hindi -Vibhajan Vibhishika Smriti Diwas) is annually observed across India on August 14 to remember the struggles and sacrifices faced by Indians during the Partition of India by the British Empire in 1947.
- This day also pays tribute to the courage of Indians, which illustrates the power of human resilience.
- 14th August 2024 marks the 4th observance of Partition Horrors Remembrance Day.
- In 2021, the Prime Minister (PM) of India Narendra Modi officially designated 14th August of every year will be observed as Partition Horrors Remembrance Day to honour the victims and acknowledge the profound impact of partition on millions of lives.
Note: 14th August also marks the Independence day of Pakistan.
>> Read Full News
STATE NEWS
HP Launches HIM-UNNATI Scheme to Promote Natural Farming
The Himachal Pradesh (HP) Government has launched a new initiative, ‘HIM-UNNATI’, aimed at promoting natural farming across the state. The scheme represents the third phase of the Rajiv Gandhi Start-up Yojana, further incentivising natural farming practices.
About the HIM-UNNATI Scheme:
i.The HP government has allocated Rs 150 crore for the HIM-UNNATI Scheme .It will bolster the efforts of approximately 1.92 lakh farmers already practising chemical-free farming on over 32,149 hectares of land.
- It will focus on making the agriculture sector commercially viable through a cluster-based development model by promoting natural farming.
ii.Under this scheme, the government will combine smallholding farmers in order to enable bulk production and ensure a sufficient marketable surplus.
iii.It will also integrate the ongoing agricultural schemes and coordinate with departments such as Animal Husbandry, Horticulture, Fisheries, and Rural Development to optimise the scheme’s impact.
Benefits:
i.The scheme would benefit small and marginal farmers, including women, Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), and Below Poverty Line (BPL) families.
ii.It is expected to generate self-employment opportunities for approximately 50,000 farmers through the establishment of 2,600 focused agricultural clusters.
iii.It is expected to enhance productivity by 15% to 20% in vegetables and cereals in HP.
Key Points:
i.The scheme incorporates 100% soil test-based nutrient management to increase soil productivity, promotion of high-end product cultivation, and support for traditional crop and millet procurement.
ii.The government has allocated Rs. 50 crore to establish 10 new Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs), with an additional Rs. 10 crore for wire mesh and barbed wire support.
iii.It will also facilitate the certification of 15,000 acres of land as natural farming land through a dedicated web platform.
- The Certified Evaluation Tool for Agricultural Resource Analysis-Natural Farming (CETARA-NF) system has already certified over 1.41 lakh farmers.
About Himachal Pradesh (HP):
Chief Minister (CM) – Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu
Governor – Shiv Pratap Shukla
National Parks – Khirganga National Park, Inderkilla National Park
Wildlife Sanctuaries – ChandraTal Wildlife Sanctuary,
Churdhar Wildlife Sanctuary
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