1. PM Narendra Modi to chair NITI Aayog governing council meeting
Tags: National News
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will chair the 7th Governing Council meeting of NITI Aayog at Rashtrapati Bhawan Cultural Centre, New Delhi on 7 August.
PM will pave the way for a new era of collaboration between the Centre and the States.
This will be the first physical meeting of the council after July 2019 and its members will include all chief ministers.
On the 75th anniversary of independence, the states need to be agile, resilient and self-reliant and move towards "Atmanirbhar Bharat" in the spirit of cooperative federalism.
In June this year, a National Conference of Chief Secretaries was held in Dharamsala, which was presided over by the Prime Minister.
The agenda of the meeting
The agenda of the meeting includes crop diversification, achieving self-sufficiency in oilseeds, pulses and agro-communities, implementation of the National Education Policy and urban governance.
The Governing Council meeting will try to finalize a roadmap and result-oriented action plan on each subject.
The meeting will also emphasize the importance of the presidency for India in a federal system and the role of states in highlighting India's progress on the G-20 platform.
Governing Council of NITI Aayog
This includes the Chief Ministers of all the states and the Lieutenant Governors of the Union Territories.
It also includes ex-officio members of NITI Aayog, Vice-Chairman and whole-time members of NITI Aayog.
It presents a platform to discuss inter-sectoral, inter-departmental and federal issues.
About NITI Aayog
It is the premier policy think tank of the Government of India, it provides directional and policy inputs.
It designs strategic and long-term policies.
It also provides relevant technical advice to the Centre, States, and Union Territories.
The Governing Council of NITI Aayog is chaired by the Prime Minister and includes the Chief Ministers of all the States and Union Territories and the Lieutenant Governors of other Union Territories.
It was constituted on January 1, 2015.
NITI stands for National Institution for Transforming India.
The Government of India constituted the NITI Aayog to replace the Planning Commission, which was set up in 1950.
This step was taken to better meet the needs and aspirations of the people.
2. Parliamentary panel reviews Goa’s uniform civil code
Tags: State News
A parliamentary committee reviewed Goa's Uniform Civil Code. Some members of the committee believe that it contains some strange and outdated provisions related to marriage.
Important facts
The Goa Civil Code, applicable to citizens of all religions and origins of the coastal state, is at the centre of discussion amid calls for a uniform civil code across the country.
States like Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh have proposed to implement Uniform Civil Code.
Members of Parliament's Standing Committee on Law Personnel Affairs, headed by Sushil Kumar Modi, had visited Goa in June and reviewed the civil code there.
Goa Civil Code
In 1867, Portugal enacted a Portuguese civil code, and in 1869 it was extended to the overseas provinces of Portugal (which included Goa).
It is considered a Uniform Civil Code.
Generally, the Goa Civil Code is far more gender-justifiable than other laws in the country.
The law does not recognize bigamy or polygamy, including by Muslims.
The law provides for compulsory registration of marriage before a civil authority, ensuring that the wife is an equal heir and entitled to half of the "common property".
The parents have to compulsorily share at least half of the property with their children including daughters.
What is a Uniform Civil Code?
Uniform Civil Code means one law for the whole country, which is applicable to all religious communities in their personal matters like marriage, divorce, inheritance, adoption etc.
Article 44 of the Constitution talks about securing a Uniform Civil Code for every citizen of the country.
Article 44 is one of the Directive Principles of State Policy (DPSP).
Article 37 of the Constitution makes it clear that the DPSP "shall not be enforced by any court"but the principles laid down therein are fundamental in governance.
The Supreme Court for the first time directed the Parliament to frame a uniform civil code in the year 1985 in Shah Bano case.
3. UN Rights Panel Calls To Repeal Hong Kong Security Law Imposed By China
Tags: International News
Experts from the UN Human Rights Committee said on July 27 that Hong Kong's controversial national security law should be repealed as the law is being used to crack down on free expression and dissent.
Important facts
Chinese and Hong Kong officials have used the NSL imposed by Beijing in 2020 to restore stability after the city was destabilized by sometimes violent anti-government and anti-China activities in 2019.
This UN committee, which oversees the implementation of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), released its findings on Hong Kong after periodic review.
The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region is a signatory to the ICCPR but China is not.
This is the first recommendation by an independent UN expert body since 2020.
About Hong Kong
Hong Kong is an autonomous region, and a former British colony in southeast China.
It became a colony of the British Empire in 1842 at the end of the First Opium War.
Sovereignty over the region was returned to China in 1997.
As a Special Administrative Region (SAR), Hong Kong maintains governing power and economic systems that are separate from those of mainland China.
The Sino-British Joint Declaration of 1984 guarantees basic law for 50 years.
About Hong Kong Security Law
Hong Kong was handed back to China by the British government in 1997, but this was done under an agreement.
This agreement is called the 'Basic Law' and it affirms the principle of 'one country, two systems'.
This minor constitution is a product of the 1984 Sino-British Joint Declaration.
Under this, China promised in 1997 that in the coming 50 years it would respect Hong Kong's liberal policies, governance system, an independent judiciary and individual freedoms that no other part of mainland China has.
The Basic Law will expire in the year 2047. Under Article 23, Hong Kong can make its own national security law.
4. India's Indermit Gill appointed Chief Economist of World Bank
Tags: Person in news
The World Bank has appointed Indian citizen Indermit Gill as its Chief Economist and Senior Vice President of Development Economics.
Important facts
Gill will replace American economist Carmen Reinhart and his appointment will be effective from September 1, 2022.
Gill is currently Vice President of Equitable Development, Finance and Institutions, where he led work on macroeconomics, credit, trade, poverty and governance.
Gill will be the second Indian to serve as the Chief Economist at the World Bank. Kaushik Basu was the first Indian to hold the position from 2012-2016.
Raghuram Rajan and Gita Gopinath have served as chief economists at the International Monetary Fund, a subsidiary of the World Bank.
Between 2016 and 2021, Gill was Professor of Public Policy at Duke University and a Non-Resident Senior Fellow in the Global Economy and Development Program at the Brookings Institution.
Gill has also taught at Georgetown University and the University of Chicago.
Gill holds a PhD in Economics from the University of Chicago.
Gill holds an MA from Delhi School of Economics and a BA (Hons) in Economics from St Stephen's College, University of Delhi.
About World Bank
The International Bank for Reconstruction and Development and the International Monetary Fund were established together in 1944 during the Bretton Woods Conference in New Hampshire, USA.
The International Bank for Reconstruction and Development is also called the World Bank.
At present, 189 countries are members of the World Bank.
Its headquarter is in Washington DC, the capital of America.
The World Bank Group is a group of the following five international organisations that provide economic-financial assistance and financial advice to member countries-
International Bank for Reconstruction and Development
International Finance Corporation
international development association
International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes
Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency
President- David Malpass
CEO- Anshula Kant
5. India And Namibia Sign MoU For Wildlife Conservation
Tags: National International News
India and Namibia on 20 July signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Wildlife Conservation and Sustainable Biodiversity Use to place the Cheetah in the Historic Category in India.
Thrust areas of the MoU
Biodiversity conservation with a special focus on the conservation and restoration of cheetahs in areas where they became extinct.
Exchange of expertise and capabilities with the aim of promoting cheetah conservation between the two countries.
Wildlife conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity by sharing good practices
Technological applications, mechanisms of livelihood generation for local communities living in wildlife habitats and sustainable management of biodiversity.
Cooperation in climate change, environmental governance, environmental impact assessment, pollution and waste management and other areas of mutual interest.
Training and exchange of trained personnel in wildlife management including sharing of technical expertise, wherever relevant.
About Cheetah
The cheetah is one of the oldest of the big cat species, whose ancestors can be traced back more than five million years to the Miocene era.
It is the world's fastest land mammal that lives in Africa and Asia.
Human-wildlife conflict, habitat loss and hunting and illegal trafficking are the reasons for their extinction in India.
Cheetah reintroduction project in India
The main goal of the project is to establish viable cheetah metapopulation in India that allows the cheetah to perform its functional role as a top predator.
The surveys were conducted at 10 locations between 2010 and 2012.
Under this project, 50 cheetahs will be introduced in various national parks of the country over a period of 5 years.
6. The website of the Ministry of Home Affairs tops the service portals of the Union Ministry
Tags: National News
The website of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has been ranked first under the Portal of Central Ministries in the National e-Governance Service Delivery Assessment.
Important facts
The Digital Police Portal of National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) under the Central Mantralaya Services Portal has been ranked second in the assessment.
This evaluation was done by evaluating service portals with the portal of their parent Ministry/Department.
The government portals that were assessed were divided into two main categories - State/Union Territory/Central Ministry Portal and State/Union Territory/Central Ministry Service Portal.
Four parameters of assessment
Accessibility
Content availability
Ease of Use and Information Security
Privacy for Central Ministry Portals
National e-Governance Service Delivery Assessment
The National e-Governance Service Delivery Assessment was conducted in 2021 by the Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances (DARPG) in association with knowledge partners NASSCOM and KPMG.
It is a periodic assessment aimed at improving the effectiveness of the States/UTs and the Central Government in the delivery of their online services to the citizens.
7. Chhattisgarh gets Centre’s nod for World Bank funded school project
Tags: State News
The Chhattisgarh government has received in-principle approval from the Centre for a $300 million (approximately ₹2,100 crore) school education project, funded by the World Bank to the state government.
What is the proposal?
A World Bank team will visit Chhattisgarh later this month for the first phase of talks.
The discussion on this proposal started two months ago, and was then sent to the Centre after the approval of the state finance department.
The World Bank will lend the Chhattisgarh government $300 million over a five-year period at interest far below market rates and repay it over a period of 20 years.
After assessment by the World Bank team, a Detailed Project Report (DPR) will be prepared, which will be placed before the World Bank Board and the Centre for final approval.
The DPR will also have a detailed plan of how the money will be spent.
What is an in-principle nod?
This means that the Centre has no objection to the state borrowing from an external financial institution like the World Bank.
It is not a final nod, but it paves the way for the state to move forward with subsequent discussions.
Similarly, the World Bank has also given in-principle approval that it is ready to fund the project.
World Bank's association with India’s school education
The World Bank has been associated with India’s school education system since 1994.
The World Bank signed a $500 million Strengthening Teaching-Learning and Results for States Program (STARS) with India in 2021 to improve the quality and governance of school education in six Indian states.
However, Chhattisgarh is not included in that list.
8. PM Modi launches 'Raising and Accelerating MSME Performance' scheme
Tags: Economy/Finance Government Schemes
Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the 'Raising and Accelerating MSME Performance' (RAMP) scheme under the Entrepreneur India Program at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi.
RAMP Scheme
The scheme was announced by the Finance Minister in the Union Budget 2022-23.
Recommendations for RAMP Scheme KV Kamath Committee, UK Sinha Committee and the Prime Minister's Economic Advisory Council (PMEAC).
It is a World Bank assisted central sector scheme under which the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MoMSME) is providing necessary support to address the challenges related to COVID-19.
The total financial outlay for the RAMP scheme is Rs 6,062.45 crore ($808 million).
The World Bank will provide a loan of Rs 3750 crore ($500 million) for this program and the remaining Rs 2312.45 crore ($308 million) is being funded by the central government.
Program Objective
The objective of the scheme is to improve access to credit and markets, as well as strengthen institutions and governance in the state and at the Centre.
It will also look at improving Centre and State partnerships as well as resolving issues related to delayed payments.
MSME capacity will also be increased through this program and MSME coverage will also be increased in the states and union territories.
The scheme will promote skill development, capacity building, technology up-gradation, quality enhancement, outreach, digitization, marketing promotion etc.
Plan implementation and monitoring
Strategic Investment Plans (SIPs) will be prepared for the implementation of RAMP and all the States and Union Territories of the country will be invited to provide inputs.
An outreach plan will be made to mobilise and identify MSMEs through SIPs.
The National MSME Council, which will be chaired by the Minister of MSME and comprising representatives from other ministries as well as a Secretariat, will monitor and evaluate the scheme.
9. "China-Horn of Africa Peace, Governance and Development Conference"
Tags: Summits
Recently the first "China-Horn of Africa Peace, Governance and Development Conference" was held in Ethiopia.
This is the first time that China aims to "play its role in the field of security".
The conference held in Ethiopia saw the participation of the foreign ministries of the following Horn countries- Kenya, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Sudan, Somalia, South Sudan and Uganda.
Horn of Africa:
The Horn of Africa is a peninsula in Northeast Africa.
Located in the eastern part of the African mainland, it is the fourth largest peninsula in the world.
It is located along the southern border of the Red Sea and extends for hundreds of kilometres into the Guardafui Channel, the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean.
The Horn of Africa is equidistant from the equator and the Tropic of Cancer.
The Horn includes the biodiversity of the highlands of the Ethiopian Plateau, the Ogaden Desert, Eritrea and the Somalian Coast.
The Horn of Africa refers to the region comprising the countries of Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia and Somalia.
The region has experienced imperialism, neo-colonialism, cold war, ethnic conflict, inter-African conflict, poverty, disease, famine, etc.
10. G7 announces $600 billion global infrastructure programs
Tags: International News
The G7 group has announced USD 600 billion global infrastructure programs for poor countries.
Under the program, the US government and its allies will try to touch the USD 600 billion mark during the years 2022 and 2027.
The move is intended to compete with China's Belt and Road Initiative.
The proposed G7 funding would rely largely on private companies, in contrast to the Chinese government-run Belt and Road Initiative.
The partnership has been unveiled by US President Joe Biden and G7 allies from Germany, Canada, Japan, Italy and the European Union.
Belt and Road Initiative (BRI)
The Belt and Road Initiative is formally known as the One Belt One Road initiative.
It is a global infrastructure development strategy, launched by China in 2013.
Under this, China had planned to invest in about 70 countries and international organisations.
The project is the centrepiece of Chinese leader Xi Jinping's foreign policy.
As of March 2022, 146 countries have signed the BRI.
The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank is dedicated to providing loans for infrastructure projects.
About the G7
The G7 or Group of Seven is a grouping of the seven most advanced economies.
The seven countries are Canada, USA, UK, France, Germany, Japan and Italy.
It was formed in 1975.
The G7 countries meet annually to discuss issues of common interest such as global economic governance, international security and energy policy.
All G7 countries and India are part of the G20.
The G7 has no fixed headquarters.
