1. INDIA-VATICAN CITY
His Holiness Pope Francis received Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi in a private audience at the Apostolic Palace in the Vatican on Saturday, 30 October 2021.
About:
- This was the first meeting between an Indian Prime Minister and the Pope in more than two decades.
- In June 2000, Late Prime Minister Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee had last visited the Vatican and met the then Pope, His Holiness John Paul II.
- India and The Holy See have friendly relations dating back to the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1948.
- India is home to the second largest Catholic population in Asia.
- Prime Minster extended an invitation to His Holiness Pope Francis to visit India at an early date, which was accepted with pleasure.
Important Info :
Vatican City?
- Vatican City, officially the Vatican City State is a landlocked and independent city state and enclave located within Rome, Italy.
- The Vatican City State, also known simply as the Vatican, became independent from Italy with the Lateran Treaty (1929).
- it is a distinct territory under "full ownership, exclusive dominion, and sovereign authority and jurisdiction" of the Holy See, itself a sovereign entity of international law, which maintains the city state's temporal, diplomatic, and spiritual independence.
- With an area of 49 hectares and a population of about 825, it is the smallest state in the world by both area and population.
Source : PIB
2. ITALY-INDIA STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP IN ENERGY TRANSITION
Mario Draghi, President of the Council of Ministers of the Italian Republic, and Narendra Modi, Prime Minister of India, had a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the G20 Leaders’ Summit hosted by Italy in Rome on October 30-31, 2021.
In order to promote their partnership in energy transition, Italy and India will:
- Task the "Joint Working Group” established by the MoU on Cooperation in the field of Energy, signed in Delhi on October 30, 2017, to explore cooperation in areas such as: Smart Cities; mobility; smart-grids, electricity distribution and storage solutions.
- Initiate a dialogue to support the development and deployment of green hydrogen and related technologies in India.
- Consider working together to support a large size green corridor project in India to capitalize on India’s target to produce and integrate 450 GW of renewable energy by 2030.
- Encourage joint investments of Indian and Italian companies in energy transition-related fields.
Source : PIB
3. LAKHPATI SHG WOMEN
To bring a sharper focus on moving women to the higher economic order, the Ministry of Rural Development launched an initiative on creating Lakhpati SHG women, to enable rural SHG women to earn at least Rs.1 lakh per annum.
About:
- For the realization of this ambitious goal, the Ministry has envisioned livelihood support to 25 million rural SHG women in the next 2 years.
- National Rural Livelihood Mission works on a saturation approach. As of date, 6768 blocks have been covered under the programme with mobilizing 7.7 crore women into 70 lakh SHGs.
- From providing initial capitalization support to the SHGs are being credited to the tune of almost 80 thousand crore rupees annually.
- Under the mission, poor women from different cross-sections of class and caste form into Self Help Groups and their federations, providing financial, economic and social development services to their members for enhancing their income and quality of life.
- Over the years this money borrowed by SHGs through bank capitalization support is now being used for creating diversified livelihood opportunities.
- While all these efforts are yielding positive transformation, it is realized that for ensuring sustainable livelihoods and dignified life of women SHG members, there is a need to make concerted effort for ensuring at least INR 1,00,000 income per annum for the household i.e. enabling them to become a Lakhpati.
- The figure of Rs 1 lakh is both aspirational and inspirational for rural SHG women.
Source : PIB
4. LONG-RANGE BOMB
An Indian Air Force (IAF) team and the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) successfully flight-tested the country’s first indigenously developed long-range bomb (LRB) from a fighter jet over Balasore in Odisha.
About:
- The bomb is part of the class of weapons with a range of 50 to 150 km.
- The bomb has been designed and developed by DRDO’s Research Centre Imarat (RCI) laboratory in Hyderabad, in coordination with other DRDO laboratories.
- The Long-Range Bomb after release from the IAF fighter aircraft, guided to a land-based target at a long range with accuracy within specified limits. All the mission objectives were successfully met.
- Successful flight test of Long-Range Bomb has marked an important milestone in indigenous development of this class of systems.
Source : All India Radio
5. CURRENT ACCOUNT RULES
The Reserve Bank of India eased Current Account Rules for bank exposures less than five crore rupees allowing lenders to open current accounts, cash credit and overdraft facilities without any restriction.
About:
- The Apex Bank asked banks to implement the changes within one month.
- For borrowers, where the exposure of the banking system is less than five crore rupees, there is no restriction on the opening of current accounts or on the provision of CC/OD facility by banks, subject to obtaining an undertaking from such borrowers that they will inform the banks when the credit facilities availed by them from the banking system reaches five crore rupees or more.
- It added that borrowers where the exposure is more than five crore rupees, will continue to maintain current accounts with any one of the banks with which they have cash credit or overdraft facility, provided that the bank has at least 10 per cent of the exposure of the banking system to that borrower.
- The banking regulator also permitted banks to open and maintain inter-bank accounts, all accounts with institutions like EXIM Bank, NABARD, NHB and SIDBI account attached by orders of Central or State Government and investigative agencies without any restrictions.
- RBI’s new rules aim to discipline current account usage to monitor cash flows efficiently and control siphoning of funds by regulating an already over-regulated sector.
Source : All India Radio
6. MUKHYAMANTRI GHASIYARI KALYAN YOJANA
The Union Minister of Home Affairs and Minister of Cooperation, Amit Shah launched the Mukhyamantri Ghasiyari Kalyan Yojana and computerization of cooperative societies in Dehradun, Uttarakhand.
About:
- The Union Home Minister said that three programs have been started.
- First, work of computerization of all the PACS (Primary Agricultural Credit Society) of Uttarakhand has been completed. Computerization helps in direct linkage of PACS with district banks, district banks with state cooperative banks and state cooperative banks with NABARD and all schemes of farmers reach farmers directly through PACS.
- Mukhyamantri Ghasiyari Kalyan Yojana has been launched. Women face great difficulty in providing fodder for animals in the hills in adverse weather conditions. Here about 2,000 farmers will cultivate maize on about 1,000 acres of land and a plan has been made to make nutritious animal feed in a scientific way, which will benefit about one lakh farmers.
Source : PIB
7. AMENDMENT TO ENERGY CONSERVATION ACT, 2001
Amidst the growing energy needs and changing global climate landscape, the Government of India has identified new areas to achieve higher levels of penetration of Renewable energy by proposing certain Amendments to Energy Conservation Act, 2001.
About:
- The objective will be to enhance demand for renewable energy at the end- use sectors such as Industry, buildings, transport etc.
- The proposal includes defining minimum share of renewable energy in the overall consumption by the industrial units or any establishment. There will be provision to incentivise efforts on using clean energy sources by means of carbon saving certificate.
- The proposed amendments would facilitate development of Carbon market in India and prescribe minimum consumption of renewable energy either as direct consumption or indirect use through grid. This will help in reduction of fossil fuel based energy consumption and carbon emission to the atmosphere.
- The proposed changes to the EC Act will boost the adoption of clean technologies in various sectors of economy. The provisions would facilitate promotion of green Hydrogen as an alternate to the existing fossil fuels used by the Industries.
- The additional incentives in the form of Carbon credits against deployment of clean technologies will result in private sector involvement in climate actions. The proposal also includes expanding the scope of Act to include larger Residential buildings, with an aim to promote Sustainable Habitat.
Source : PIB
8. VALIYAZHIKKAL LIGHTHOUSE
Union Minister for Ports, Shipping & Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal inaugurated a new Lighthouse at Valiyazhikkal in Alappuzha district of Kerala.
About:
- After obtaining the Coastal Regulatory Zone (CRZ) clearance and other statutory clearance, the 41.26 metre height pentagonal RCC tower with elevator and allied buildings have been constructed and the lighthouse is currently on trial run since 03.06.2021.
- The Govt has approved development of 75 lighthouses for tourism as a part of the 75thAzaadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav and Valiyazhikkal lighthouse is one of them. 11 other Lighthouses in Kerala have been earmarked for development of Tourism.
- Construction of the lighthouse will immensely benefit the mariners plying in this Kerala region and the local fishermen will benefit for Day mark in day time and Safe return in Night time from the sea.
- The location at Valiyazhikkal beach shall be a tourist destination and endorse the tourism activity in the area by providing scenic view of the sea to the tourists and thereby generate job and economical benefits for the locals.
Source : PIB
9. MGNREGA SCHEME
The government of India is committed to release funds for wage and material payments for proper implementation of the Mahatma Gandhi NREGA scheme.
About:
- Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (Mahatma Gandhi NREGA) provides the guarantee of at least 100 days of wage employment against the demand made by a household in a rural area.
- Fund release towards wage and material is a continuous process. There has been increasing of more than 18% of funds allocation for the current financial year in comparison to the previous financial year as a budget estimate.
- Whenever additional fund is required, the Ministry of Finance is requested to provide the funds. In the previous financial year, the Ministry of Finance allocated Rs.50,000 crore additional funds for the scheme over and above that of BE.
- The provision for unemployment allowances is applicable for the beneficiary who has demanded work and could not be offered the work within 15 days from the date of demand for work.
- The category wise (SC, ST and Others) wage payment system, as made applicable from this current financial year, has been introduced to accurately reflect on the ground flow of funds to various population groups. Its further streamlining is being undertaken.
Source : PIB
10. PAN-INDIA LEGAL AWARENESS PROGRAM FOR WOMEN
The National Commission for Women (NCW), along with National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) has launched a pan-India Legal Awareness Program for Women, "Empowerment of Women through Legal Awareness” to impart practical knowledge about legal rights.
About:
- The programme was launched in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh by Justice UU Lalit, Judge Supreme Court of India and Executive Chairman, NALSA, Chairperson, National Commission for Women.
- The programme aims to cover all the States and Union Territories across the country through regular sessions to make women aware of the various machineries of the justice delivery system available for redressal of their grievances.
- The project will sensitize women and girls about their rights as provided under the various laws including the Indian Penal Code.
- The project will also make them aware of the procedure of approaching and utilizing various channels available for the redressal of grievances, i.e., the Police, the Executive and the Judiciary.
Important Info :
Background:
- Earlier, the Commission had launched a pilot project ‘Legal Awareness Programme’ in collaboration with NALSA for women at the grass-root levelon August 15, 2020.
- The Pilot project had covered all the districts of 8 States, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, West Bengal, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Assam.
Source : PIB
11. TUSHIL-Protector Shield
The 7th Indian Navy Frigate of P1135.6 class was launched on 28 Oct 2021 at Yantar Shipyard, Kaliningrad, Russia.
About:
- During the ceremony, the ship was formally named as ‘Tushil’. Tushil is a Sanskrit word meaning Protector Shield.
- Based on an Inter-Governmental Agreement (IGA) between the Government of Republic of India and Government of Russian Federation for construction of two ships of Project 1135.6 ships in Russia and two ships in India at M/s Goa Shipyard Limited (GSL), the contract for construction of two ships was signed between India and Russia in Oct 18.
- The construction of these ships is based on Indian Navy’s specific requirements to meet the entire spectrum of naval warfare in all three dimensions of Air, Surface and Sub-surface.
Source : PIB
13. SWAMIH FUND
The government-backed Special Window for Affordable & Mid-Income Housing (SWAMIH) Fund has announced a complete exit from its investment made in CCI Rivali Park Wintergreen project in Mumbai.
About:
- The fund was set up last year to provide last mile funding to stuck affordable housing projects.
- According to the Finance Ministry, SWAMIH has given final approval to 95 projects sanctioning more than Rs 9,500 crores which will complete over 57,700 homes.
- It has already completed over 1,500 homes in seven projects and is on track to complete at least 10,000 homes every year.
- Located in Borivali, Mumbai, the Rivali Park residential project was the first to receive funding under the SWAMIH Fund, which was announced in November 2019 with an estimated fund size of Rs 25,000 crore. The Fund was announced under a government scheme to support stuck projects.
Source : Indian Express
14. INDIGENOUS MECHANIZED SCAVENGING SYSTEM
Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR) demonstrated the CSIR-CMERI, Durgapur developed indigenous Mechanized Scavenging System successfully at the premises of the CSIR-National Physical Laboratory.
About:
- The developed system is benchmarked with the market available system in India, and a number of features have been added which makes it first of its kind in India.
- The developed system is "very economic" and an important vehicle in Swachh Bharat Mission.
- The developed System will help the "Manual Scavengers" Skilling themselves on the latest technological advancements in Sewerage Maintenance Systems as well as enhance their efficiency, performance and safeguard them against intrusive pathogens.
- This will remove the Indignity from the Profession of Scavenging.
- The CSIR-CMERI developed machine is designed for up to 5000 people density i.e. best suitable up to 300 mm diameter and up to 100-meter length of sewer system.
Source : PIB
15. INTERNATIONAL YEAR OF FRUITS AND VEGETABLES
Union Minister for Agriculture & Farmers Welfare Shri Narendra Singh Tomar addressed a National Conference on “International Year of Fruits and Vegetables” organized by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare in collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.
About:
- The conference was organized as part of the celebration of the “International Year of Fruits and Vegetables, 2021” declared by United Nations Organization.
- The theme for this year is “Awareness about the nutritional benefits of fruits and vegetables for balanced and healthy diet and life style.”
- To promote Globally popular Exotic and important Indigenous fruit crops in the country, the Ministry has identified 10 globally popular Exotic fruit crops of commercial importance and 10 important Indigenous fruit crops with high nutritional and nutraceutical properties.
- India is the second-largest producer of horticulture, producing about 12% of the global fruit and vegetable production.
Source: PIB
16. HEALTH INSURANCE FOR INDIA’S MISSING MIDDLE
NITI Aayog released a comprehensive report titled Health Insurance for India’s Missing Middle, which brings out the gaps in the health insurance coverage across the Indian population and offers solutions to address the situation.
About:
- The Ayushman Bharat - Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana—a flagship scheme towards Universal Health Coverage, and State Government extension schemes—provides comprehensive hospitalization cover to the bottom 50% of the population.
- Around 20% of the population is covered through social health insurance, and private voluntary health insurance primarily designed for high-income groups.
- The remaining 30% of the population, devoid of health insurance, is termed as the “missing middle”. The missing middle contains multiple groups across all expenditure quintiles and is spread across both urban and rural areas. The report highlights the need for designing a low-cost comprehensive health insurance product for the missing middle.
Source: PIB
17. INDIA’S FIRST MANNED OCEAN MISSION SAMUDRAYAN
Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh launched India’s First Manned Ocean Mission Samudrayan at Chennai.
About:
- With the launch of this Unique Ocean Mission, India joins the the elite club of nations such as USA, Russia, Japan, France and China to have such underwater vehicles for carrying out subsea activities.
- This niche technology shall facilitate Ministry of Earth Sciences, MoES in carrying out deep ocean exploration of the non-living resources such as polymetallic manganese nodules, gas hydrates, hydro-thermal sulphides and cobalt crusts, located at a depth between 1000 and 5500 meters.
- The preliminary design of the manned submersible MATSYA 6000 is completed and realization of vehicle is started with various organization including ISRO, IITM and DRDO roped-in to support the development.
- Sea trials of 500 metre rated shallow water version of the manned submersible are expected to take place in the last quarter of 2022 and the MATSYA 6000, the deep water manned submersible will be ready for trials by the second quarter of 2024.
- With the advancing subsea technologies, the recent Fendouzhe manned submersible developed by China in 2020 has touched ~11000m water depths.
Source : PIB
18. INSULATE BRITAIN
Insulate Britain, an environmental campaign group demanding insulation of all social housing in Britain to cut carbon emissions, blocked two busy roads in London.
About:
- According to Insulate Britain’s website, the group is made up of “ordinary British citizens” who are only demanding that the government insulate Britain.
- "The UK government must immediately promise to fully fund and take responsibility for the insulation of all social housing in Britain." says the group’s website.
What are the major demands of Insulate Britain?
- The group’s first demand is that the UK government makes a promise to completely fund and take responsibility for insulating all social housing in Britain by 2025.
- Secondly, the group asks the UK government to promise to draw, within four months, a legally binding plan to fund and take responsibility for “a full low-energy and low-carbon whole-house retrofit, with no externalised costs, of all homes in Britain by 2030 as part of a just transition to full decarbonisation of all parts of society and the economy”.
Source: Indian Express
19. META
Facebook is now called ‘Meta’, a change, the company announced at its Connect 2021 conference.
About:
- ‘Meta’ in Greek means ‘after’ or ‘beyond’. The overall Facebook company will now simply be called Meta. However, the Facebook app will retain its name and there’s no change for other apps.
- But Instagram, Facebook, WhatsApp, Messenger are now all under the company ‘Meta’— like Google has all its products under the umbrella company Alphabet.
- Meta has a new logo as well, which is sort of like the symbol for infinity.
- What exactly will it mean to live in the metaverse? The way Zuckerberg is envisioning the ‘metaverse’, it will go beyond the internet as we know it, with interoperability, avataars, natural interfaces, teleporting, Home Space, presence, digital goods being some of the key features of this metaverse.
Source: Indian Express
20. SUPER SKYSCRAPERS
Home to some of the world’s tallest buildings, China is now cracking down on the construction of ‘super skyscrapers’ in smaller cities across the country.
About:
- The country’s strict new laws impose restrictions on the height of buildings based on the population density of different cities.
- The latest guidelines limiting the height of super-high buildings is part of a larger crackdown on “vanity projects” in the country. It also aims to reduce China’s energy consumption. Many have argued that in low-density cities massive skyscrapers are merely impractical vanity projects.
Important Info :
What are the new rules?
- As per the country’s strict new rules, skyscrapers taller than 150 metres (490 ft) will be strictly limited, and those higher than 250 metres (820 ft) will be banned for cities with a population of fewer than 3 million.
- In cities with over 3 million people, authorities have also decided to limit structures taller than 250 metres.
Source : Indian Express
21. KARNATAKA GAMBLING LAW
On September 21, the Karnataka legislature passed a legislation to amend the Karnataka Police Act, 1963, making all forms of gambling, including online, a cognisable and non-bailable offence. The Karnataka Police (Amendment) Act , 2021 was notified and came into force on October 5.
About:
- It was passed in Karnataka despite similar laws introduced in Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Telangana having faced legal challenges for broadening the scope of gambling beyond what has been defined by law.
- On August 3, the Madras High Court struck down the Tamil Nadu Gambling and Police Laws (Amendment) Act, 2021 as being ultra vires.
- And on September 27, the Kerala High Court, relying on the Madras HC order, struck down an amendment to the Kerala Gaming Act, 1960 which imposed a ban on online rummy.
Important Info :
What are the legal issues raised by these amended laws?
- One of the primary grounds on which the new gaming laws in Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu has been challenged is that games of skill have been clubbed along with games of chance in the definition of gaming, if the games of skill are played for prizes or bets.
- Gaming companies have argued — successfully in Tamil Nadu and Kerala — that as per the law laid down by the Supreme Court in as 1957 (Chamarbaugwala cases) — competitive games of skill are business activities protected under Article 19 (1) (g) of the Constitution.
Source : Indian Express