NATIONAL UPDATES:
1. MNRE notifies Scheme Guidelines for ₹500 crore ‘Innovative Projects’ component under PM-Surya Ghar Yojana: Union Ministry of New and Renewable Energy has notified Scheme Guidelines for implementation of ‘Innovative Projects’ under PM-Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana.
Under the scheme component ‘Innovative Projects’, ₹500 crores have been earmarked to encourage advancements in rooftop solar technologies, business models, and integration techniques.The component seeks to identify and support startups, institutions, and industries in piloting new concepts, focusing on emerging solutions like blockchain-based peer-to-peer solar trading, smart materials, and rooftop solar integrated with electric vehicles and battery storage.To drive this forward, MNRE will invite proposals and encourage joint research and international collaborations. National Institute of Solar Energy (NISE) will serve as the Scheme Implementation Agency (SIA) for the Innovative Projects Component. Selected projects will receive financial assistance of up to 60% of the project cost or ₹30 crore, whichever is lower.
2. Union Government releases 15th Finance Commission Grants for Rural Local Bodies in Andhra Pradesh and Rajasthan: The Union Government has released the first instalment of the 15th Finance Commission grants for the FY 2024–25 to the Rural Local Bodies (RLBs) in Andhra Pradesh and Rajasthan.Andhra Pradesh has received untied grants amounting to ₹395.5091 crores and tied grants totalling ₹593.2639 crores.These funds are for duly elected 9 eligible District Panchayats, 615 eligible Block Panchayats, and12,853 eligible Gram Panchayats in Andhra Pradesh.While in Rajasthan, untied grants of ₹507.1177 crores and tied grants of ₹760.6769 crores have been released for the duly elected 22 eligible District Panchayats, 287 eligible Block Panchayats and 9,068 eligible Gram Panchayat in the state.
3. Telangana appoints Commission for Scheduled Castes Sub-Classification: The Telangana state government has launched a new effort to study the sub-classification of Scheduled Castes (SCs) for reservation benefits. This is being done to ensure that the different groups within SCs get a fair share of the benefits offered by the government.This move follows the recommendations made by a Cabinet sub-committee, which looked at ways to ensure that the advantages of the reservation system are fairly shared among all SC sub-groups.The government set up this one-person Commission of Inquiry under the Commissions of Inquiry Act, 1952. Justice Shameem Akhtar has been given the task of leading this investigation.The commission has been given a time limit of 60 days from the time the commission officially starts its work to complete the inquiry.
4. Srinivas gets additional charge as CEO of public procurement portal GeM: The government has given L Satya Srinivas, additional secretary in Department of Commerce, the additional charge of CEO of public procurement portal GeM.The additional charge was given as the last CEO of the Government e Marketplace (GeM) P K Singh has been appointed as secretary in the renewable energy ministry.Srinivas is an officer of the 1991 batch of the Indian Revenue Service (Customs & Indirect Taxes).The government has given L Satya Srinivas, Additional Secretary in the Department of Commerce, the additional charge of CEO of public procurement portal GeM.The GeM portal was launched on August 9, 2016, for online purchases of goods and services by all central government ministries and departments.
INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:
1. WTO cuts 2025 world merchandise trade growth forecast to 3% from 3.3%: The World Trade Organisation (WTO) has reduced its growth forecast for the volume of global merchandise trade in 2025 to 3 per cent from 3.3 per cent, amid escalating conflict in the West Asia region, which has blocked the crucial Red Sea shipping route for nearly a year.For 2024, the WTO revised upwards its forecast for merchandise trade growth to 2.7 per cent, up from the previous estimate of 2.6 per cent.The trade body warned that an intensification of the conflict in West Asia could have adverse consequences for global and regional trade flows, with effects also being felt in other regions. These may include “further disruptions” to shipping and rising energy prices due to higher risk premiums.
2. PM Modi attended the 19th East Asia Summit (EAS): Prime Minister Narendra Modi took part in the 19th East Asia Summit (EAS) held in Vientiane, Laos PDR.The Prime Minister emphasized the important part that ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) plays in shaping the future of the Indo-Pacific.He mentioned India’s vision for the region, known as the Pacific Vision, which focuses on collaboration with countries like the Quad nations (India, Australia, Japan, and the United States) to promote peace and cooperation in the region.
3. 12 October 2024 – World Migratory Bird Day: World Migratory Bird Day Celebrated in the second Saturdays of May and October. This year the dates are May 11 and October 12, 2024.
The two days of World Migratory Bird Day serve as a means to reflect the cyclical nature of bird migration, as well as the varying peak migration periods in the northern and southern hemispheres.World Migratory Bird Day is a global awareness raising campaign that aims to highlights the need for international cooperation to conserve migratory birds and concerns related to decreasing populations of insects.Theme – Protect Insects, Protect Birds
4. 12 October – World Arthritis Day: World Arthritis Day is observed annually on October 12th to raise awareness about arthritis, a condition affecting millions worldwide.Arthritis primarily affects the joints, causing pain, stiffness, and swelling. Joint pain is a common symptom of arthritis due to the inflammation or degradation of the cartilage that cushions joints.While there is no cure for arthritis, exercise plays a significant role in reducing joint pain by strengthening the muscles around the joints, improving flexibility, and maintaining overall mobility.
5. 10 October 2024 – World Sight Day: World Sight Day is observed every year on the second Thursday of October. This year is falls on 10 October. Objective – To raise awareness about the preventive measures to avoid blindness, promote eye health and ensure equitable access to quality vision care.Theme 2024 – Children, Love Your EyesWorld Sight Day was started as part of the “Sight First” campaign which was organised by the Lions Club International Foundation in 1988.The World Health Organisation (WHO) partnered with the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB) in 1999 to officially establish World Sight Day, and it was first observed on October 12, 2000.
OTHER UPDATES:
DEFENCE
1. Defence Minister virtually dedicates to the nation 75 BRO infrastructure projects, worth Rs 2,236 crore: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has virtually dedicated to the nation 75 infrastructure projects of Border Roads Organisation (BRO) at Rs 2,236 croThese projects – 22 roads, 51 bridges & two others – are spread across 11 States/Union Territories. 19 are in Jammu & Kashmir, 18 in Arunachal Pradesh, 11 in Ladakh, 9 in Uttarakhand, 6 in Sikkim, 5 in Himachal Pradesh, 2 each in West Bengal & Rajasthan, and 1 each in Nagaland, Mizoram, and Andaman & Nicobar Islands.Singh also inaugurated the projects from the Headquarters, of Trishakti Corps in Sukna, West Bengal. One of the main highlights was the inauguration of the Kupup-Sherathang Road in Sikkim, which serves as a crucial link between Jawahar Lal Nehru Marg and Zuluk axis.With the inauguration of these 75 projects, BRO has completed a total of 111 infrastructure projects in 2024 at an overall cost of Rs 3,751 crore which includes 36 projects worth Rs 1,508 crore, such as the state-of-the-art Sela Tunnel in Arunachal Pradesh, inaugurated by Prime Minister earlier.
2. First phase of 2024 Army Commanders’ Conference concluded in Gangtok: The first phase of the Second Army Commanders’ Conference for the year 2024 has been organised in a hybrid mode at Gangtok in Sikkim.The two-day conference will serve as a forum for Senior Commanders to review current operational preparedness, deliberate on critical strategies and outline future directives.During the conference, discussions will focus on critical national security issues and strategic aspects aimed at sharpening the Indian Army’s warfighting capabilities.The major issues to be deliberated during the session include the growing importance of a multi-pronged national security strategy that incorporates integration of Civil-Military Fusion and the Diplomatic, Information, Military, and Economic (DIME) pillars to counter contemporary threats.The second phase of the Army Commanders’ Conference will be held in Delhi on the 28th and 29th of October.
3. Indian Naval Ship Shardul arrives in UAE: The Indian Naval Ship Shardul, part of the First Training Squadron of the Indian Navy, arrived at Port Mina Rashid, Dubai, UAE, as part of its Long Range Training Deployment.This visit marks a significant milestone in strengthening maritime cooperation and fostering mutual understanding between India and UAE.Shardul is scheduled to engage in various activities designed to enhance maritime security and interoperability. These include harbour interactions and joint exercises including visit to the Naval Officers Training Academy and UAE Naval Ship.
BANKING AND FINANCE
1. Net direct tax collection grows 18% to ₹11.25 lakh crore: Net direct tax collection grew 18.3% to about ₹11.25 lakh crore as of October 10 this fiscal, government data showed.The mop-up includes personal income tax collection of ₹5.98 lakh crore and corporate tax collection of ₹4.94 lakh crore.Securities Transaction Tax (STT) stood at ₹30,630 crore, while other taxes (including equalisation levy and gift tax) earned ₹2,150 crore.The income tax department had collected ₹9.51 lakh crore during the same period a year ago. Refunds worth Rs 2.31 trillion were issued between April 1 and October 10, a growth of 46 percent.On a gross basis, direct tax collection grew 22.3 percent to Rs 13.57 lakh crore. The collection includes personal income tax of Rs 7.13 trillion and corporate tax of Rs 6.11 lakh crore. The government has budgeted to collect Rs 22.07 trillion in the current fiscal from direct taxes.
AWARDS AND HONOURS
1. Japanese organisation Nihon Hidankyo wins 2024 Nobel Peace Prize for Disarmament: Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to Nihon Hidankyo, a Japanese organization made up of survivors of the atomic bombings, known as the Hibakusha.This prize highlights the critical role these survivors have played in raising awareness about the devastating impact of nuclear weapons and their ongoing work to create a world free from nuclear arms. All Nobel Prizes are awarded in Stockholm, Sweden, except for the Nobel Peace Prize, which is awarded in Oslo, Norway. The founder of the Nobel Prize, Alfred Nobel, was a Swedish cosmopolitan.
No comments:
Post a Comment