NATIONAL UPDATES:
1. Government launches Rs. 5000 crore scheme to enhance
fire services in states: The Ministry of Home
Affairs launched the “Scheme for Expansion and Modernization of Fire
Services in the States” with a total budget of Rs. 5,000 crore. The
scheme, part of the preparedness and capacity building funding window under the
National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF), aims to strengthen fire services across
the country. Out of the allocated amount, Rs. 500 crore has been reserved for
incentivizing states based on their legal and infrastructure-related reforms. The
primary objective of the scheme is to expand and modernize fire services at the
state level through the preparedness and capacity-building components of the
NDRF. The concerned State Governments shall have to contribute 25% of the total
cost of such projects/proposals from their budgetary resources.
2. Indore Municipal Corporation 1st urban body in India
to get EPR credit: Indore Municipal Corporation (IMC) has become the first urban
body in the country to get the Extended Producers Responsibility (EPR)
credit by recycling the banned single-use plastic items after seizing
them. Notably, Indore was adjudged India’s cleanest city for the sixth time in
a row last year in the central government’s annual cleanliness survey. Single-use
plastic is completely banned in the city. About eight tonnes of such plastic in
the recent past and stopped from getting circulated. On average, 1,162 tonnes
of solid waste is generated every day in Indore, which includes about 164
tonnes of plastic waste. This waste is collected under different categories
from every doorstep in the city by civic vehicles and disposed of the same day
in the plant being run under the PPP model.
3. K.
Rajaraman appointed as new chairperson of IFSCA: The
government has appointed an IAS officer of the 1989 batch and telecom
secretary, K Rajaraman as the next Chairperson of the International
Financial Services Centres Authority (IFSCA) for three years, or till attaining
the age of 65 years. He succeeded the first IFSCA Chairperson Injeti
Srinivas, who led the authority since 2020. IFSCA was set up in April 2020
under the International Financial Services Centres Authority Act, 2019, at GIFT
City, Gandhinagar.
4. Cabinet
gives nod to Data Protection Bill: The Union Cabinet has
approved the draft Data Protection Bill 2022 which is expected
to be tabled in the Monsoon session of Parliament for consideration and
passage. Aim: To safeguard the personal data If it is passed, the law will
become India’s core data governance framework. Key provisions include
requiring companies collecting data to cease retaining personal information or
remove any means by which personal data can be linked to specific data
principles.
5. CM
Naveen launches ‘Ama Pokhari’ to rejuvenate water bodies: Odisha CM, Naveen Patnaik launched ‘Ama Pokhari’ Yojana to
rejuvenate around 2,000 large water bodies in all 115 urban local bodies of the
state. The state government would invest 120 crore rupees in the implementation
of the initiative. The project will be implemented using natural and
organic methodology to improve the climate of surrounding areas. The water
bodies will also be developed for recreation of citizens and their surroundings
will get an aesthetic facelift.
6. Gujarat
govt inks six MoUs with private industries for mangrove plantation: The Gujarat government has signed six MoUs with private
industries for the mangrove plantation under the MISHTI scheme. In
Gujarat, the mangroves will be planted over 3000 hectares area of land to
conserve coastal ecosystems. The MoUs were signed in the presence of the Union
Minister for Environment, Forest & Climate Change Bhupender Yadav. The
initiative will aid the restoration and conservation of mangroves and achieve
India’s carbon sink targets.
7. Voyager
Space signs MoU with NewSpace India Limited:
Voyager Space has signed an MoU with NewSpace India Limited
(NSIL) to foster collaboration in spacecraft launch and
deployment opportunities on board NSIL’s Small Satellite Launch Vehicle
(SSLV) and Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV). NSIL is the
commercial arm of the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO). The two
organizations will also study the use of space-qualified components from NSIL
in support of spacecraft manufacturing, deployment, etc.
8. Government
brings Goods & Services Tax Network under PMLA: The
Central Government issued a notification to bring the Goods & Services
Tax Network (GSTN) under the purview of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act
(PMLA). Information stored on GSTN can be now shared under PMLA Act. Due to
this, it will be possible to take strict action against those involved in
tax evasion and manipulation of documents. Due to this, crimes under GST
like fake input tax credits, fake invoices, etc. will be included in the PMLA
Act.
9. GSTN
launches geocoding in all states and UTs:
The GST Network (GSTN) has made the geocoding functionality live
for all states and UTs, which converts an address or description of a
location into geographic coordinates. Aim: To ensure the accuracy of
address details in GSTN records and streamline the address location and
verification process The functionality is available for normal, composition,
SEZ units, SEZ developers, input service distributors, and casual taxpayers who
are active, canceled, and suspended.
INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:
1. Govt of India and Kenya to co-host ‘International
Millet Festival: India and Kenya will co-host a two-day ‘India-Africa
International Millet Conference‘ on 30 – 31 August 2023. The event will witness
participation from government leaders, researchers, farmers, entrepreneurs and
industry associations from around the globe. Through the international conference,
the government of India and Kenya aim to raise public awareness about millet as
the world’s emerging smart food. The government of India spearheaded the United
Nations General Assembly (UNGA) resolution for declaring the year 2023 as the
International Year of Millets. Additionally, they are also drought-resistant,
pest-resilient, climate-friendly crops that can boost income opportunities and
livelihoods of smallholder farmers, especially in sub-Saharan Africa and Asia. India
produces all the nine commonly known traditional millets viz. Sorghum, Pearl
Millet, Finger Millet, Foxtail Millet, Proso Millet, Little Millet, Barnyard
Millet, Browntop Millet and Kodo Millet. Millet is a common term for
categorizing small-seeded grasses that are often called Nutri-cereals. Most of
the states in India grow one or more millet crop species. Rajasthan, Uttar
Pradesh, Haryana, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu,
Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana are the major millets producing states. In March,
India held its first mega-global event Global Millets (Shree Anna) Conference
in Delhi to celebrate 2023 as the International Year of Millets (IYM).
2. China
has launched its computer operating system:
China has launched its first homegrown open-source operating system
named OpenKylin for computers. Aim: To reduce its foreign dependence at a
time of increased rivalry with the United States The system has been designed
as a rival to the ubiquitous Windows and MacOS systems. Previous versions of
the software had already been deployed on the computers of some government
departments. It is based on the popular open-source Linux operating
system.
OTHER UPDATES:
SPORTS
1. Max
Verstappen Claims Victory at British Grand Prix 2023: Red Bull's driver, Max Verstappen has clinched F1 2023
British Grand Prix title, held at the Silverstone Circuit, England.
Lando
Norris for McLaren placed second and Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton placed third on
the podium.
· Previous F1 GP winners (2023):
· Canadian Grand Prix: Max Verstappen
· Spanish Grand Prix: Max Verstappen
· Monaco Grand Prix: Max Verstappen
· Bahrain Grand Prix: Max Verstappen
· Saudi Arabia Grand Prix: Sergio Pérez
BANKING AND FINANCE
1. Piramal Finance launches five all-women branches: Piramal Capital & Housing Finance Limited has
launched five all-women branches as part of its commitment to
diversity and equal opportunities. These branches, named
‘Maitreyi,’ are part of the company’s efforts to foster gender equality
and provide women with equal workforce opportunities. The five branches are d
in Ajmer Road (Rajasthan), Chattarpur (New Delhi), Mohali (Punjab), Mumbai
(Maharashtra), and Tripunithura (Kerala). These full-service branches will have
a dedicated team of 7 to 15 women employees. The ‘Maitreyi’ branches will
provide loans to MSMEs and home loans. Piramal Finance aims to provide
simplified, efficient, and impactful lending solutions that cater to consumer
financing needs. Managing Director of Piramal Finance – Jairam Sridharan
2. RBI appoints P Vasudevan as new executive director: P Vasudevan has been appointed
as Executive Director by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). Vasudevan will
look after the Department of Currency Management, Corporate Strategy and Budget
Department (Areas other than that of Budget & Funds), and Enforcement
Department. Prior to being promoted as executive director, Vasudevan was the
Chief General Manager-in-charge of the Department of Payment and Settlement
Systems. Over a span of nearly 30 years in the Reserve Bank, served in the supervision
of banks and non-banking financial companies, payment and settlement systems
and other areas in the Reserve Bank, including a stint as Member of Faculty in
Bankers’ Training College. He has worked in the Central Office as well as
Bengaluru, Mumbai and New Delhi Regional Offices of the Reserve Bank.
3. Sirisha Voruganti appointed as MD & CEO of Lloyds
Banking Group: Lloyds Banking
Group, one of the leading UK-based financial services groups has
appointed Sirisha Voruganti the chief executive officer and
managing director of its new Lloyds Technology Centre, based in Hyderabad,
India. Sirisha Voruganti has extensive experience in IT architecture, data
engineering, and fintech innovation and has held several senior technology
positions in multiple global firms. She was the first woman managing director
for JP Morgan Chase in Technology in India and has served as an executive vice
president of architecture, data and shared services for Mastercard. The Lloyds
Technology Centre is part of Lloyds Banking Group’s Rs 3 billion strategic
investments to transform its digital offering. Lloyds Banking Group is a
British financial institution formed through the acquisition of HBOS by Lloyds
TSB in 2009.
4. IBA sets up a group to implement the RBI committee recommendations on ARCs: The Indian Banks’ Association has constituted a five-member working group for implementing the recommendations of the RBI committee on the “working of the Asset Reconstruction Companies”. Primary focus: To review assignment agreements and trust deed templates related to the acquisition of distressed assets by ARCs from lenders Aim: To update these templates to align with the evolving changes and expectations within the ARC sector
No comments:
Post a Comment