1. G7 countries pledge to phase out imports of Russian oil
Tags: Russia-Ukraine International News
The Group of Seven (G7) countries have pledged to ban or phase out Russian oil imports over the Ukraine dispute.
The announcement came as the G7 held its third meeting this year via video conference, which was also attended by Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky.
The meeting was called to discuss support for Ukraine, and additional measures against Moscow, including on energy.
G7 leaders have personally criticised President Vladimir Putin for his actions in Ukraine.
The leaders celebrated the end of World War II in Europe following the surrender of German forces to the Allied Powers on 9 May 1945.
Russia has been accused of violating international rules-based order, in particular the United Nations Charter.
All participants were called upon to join the G7's support for the Ukrainian people and refugees and help rebuild Ukraine.
About G7
The G7 or the Group of Seven is a group of the seven most advanced economies.
The seven countries are Canada, the USA, UK, France, Germany, Japan and Italy.
It was formed in 1975.
G7 countries meet annually to discuss issues of common interest like global economic governance, international security and energy policy.
All the G7 countries and India are a part of G20.
The G7 does not have a fixed headquarters.
The UK currently chairs the G7 and has invited India along with Australia, the Republic of Korea and South Africa as guest countries for the G7 summit.
2. PM Modi to address inaugural session of Jain International Trade Organisation’s - JITO Connect 2022
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address the inaugural session of Jain International Trade Organisation’s - JITO Connect 2022 through video conferencing.
· JITO Connect 2022 is a three-day event that is being organized in Pune from May 6-8 and will consist of several sessions on various issues related to business and economy.
· About Jain International Trade Organization (JITO)
· JITO is a worldwide association of businessmen, industrialists, knowledge workers and professionals that reflects the glory of ethical business practices.
· It is a global organization formed for socio-economic empowerment, value based education, community welfare, practice of compassion, spreading global friendship and spiritual upliftment of fellow beings.
· Mission of JITO
· Creating a world class body of influential and powerful Industrialists, Entrepreneurs, Businessmen and Professionals to come together for noble causes of Economic Empowerment, Knowledge and Service.
· Objectives of JITO
· Create managed knowledge Institutions and Value Based Education.
· Growth in business by mutual cooperation, avoidance of criticism and opposition.
· Create Platform for young entrepreneurs for right Business contacts.
· Promote governance and politics & value based people.
3. 4th edition of the International Conference on Disaster Resilient Infrastructure
Tags: Summits International News
Prime Minister Narendra Modi today addressed the inaugural session of the 4th edition of the International Conference on Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (ICDRI) via video message.
The fourth edition of ICDRI was organised in a hybrid format in New Delhi from 4-6 May 2022.
ICDRI 2022 will engage with decision makers, practitioners and communities around the world to discuss challenges, identify good practices, develop collaborations and promote concrete actions.
This will include multi-sectoral and multi-country discussions around ecologically sensitive design for infrastructure transition, risk governance and finance, innovation and building human-centred, resilient.
About ICDRI
The International Conference on Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (ICDRI) is the annual conference of the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI).
It brings together member states, organisations and institutions to strengthen global discussion on disaster and climate resilient infrastructure.
In 2018 and 2019, the first and second international workshops on Disaster Resilient Infrastructure took place in New Delhi, India.
ICDRI 2021 was hosted virtually.
4. GeM reaches all-time high of over Rs 15,000 crore for Financial Year 2021-22
Tags: National Economy/Finance
The purchase orders by the Defence Ministry through the Government e-Market (GeM) portal have reached an all-time high of Rs 15,047.98 crore for the financial year 2021-22.
This is a jump of over 250 per cent as compared to the previous financial year.
Government e-Market (GeM) portal
GeM is an acronym for One Stop Government e-Market Place hosted by DGS&D where common user goods and services can be procured.
GeM is a dynamic, self-sustaining and user-friendly portal for procurement by government officials.
Public procurement is a very important part of government activity and reform of public procurement is one of the top priorities of the present government.
The Government e-Marketplace originated in January 2016 based on the recommendations of two Groups of Secretaries.
Apart from reforms in DGS&D, they recommended setting up of a dedicated e-market for various goods and services bought or sold by the Government/PSUs.
Subsequently, the Finance Minister in his budget speech for the financial year 2016-17 announced the setting up of a technology driven platform to facilitate procurement of goods and services by various ministries and agencies of the government.
DGS&D with technical support from the National e-Governance Division (Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology) has developed a GeM portal for procurement of both products and services.
The portal was launched on 9 August 2016 by the Minister of Commerce and Industry.
5. Union Cabinet approves upgradation of communication to 4G in Naxalite areas
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The Union Cabinet approved the Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF) project to upgrade 2G mobile services to 4G at security locations in areas affected by Left Wing Extremism.
This will enable better internet and data services in these LWE affected areas.
The project envisages upgradation of 2,542 mobile towers to provide 4G services in LWE areas at a cost of Rs 2,426 crore in 10 states including Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Odisha and Maharashtra.
All the sites will be upgraded by BSNL at a cost of Rs 2,426 crores.
The Union Cabinet also approved the Revised Cost Estimate on "Setting up of India Post Payments Bank".
The facility of India Post Payments Bank will be available in all 1.56 lakh branches of post offices, for which an additional Rs 820 crore will be spent.
This proposal is in line with the goal of providing mobile connectivity in rural areas and facilitating the delivery of various e-governance services, banking services, tele-medicine, tele-education etc. through mobile broadband in these areas.
The Cabinet also gave its approval for the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between India and Chile for cooperation in the field of disabilities.
6. Rajasthan becomes first State to get L-root server
Tags: Science and Technology State News
Rajasthan has become the first State in the country to get the L-root server, which will enable the State government to provide its flagship digital services and enforce e-governance with seamless internet connectivity.
The new facility will strengthen internet infrastructure and help improve security and resilience of internet-based operations.
The server, installed at the Bhamashah State Data Centre, has been installed by the government in association with the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN).
After its installation, even if there is a problem in internet connectivity due to any technical fault or natural calamity in the whole of Asia or India, it will continue to run without any interruption in Rajasthan.
Along with this, high speed internet connectivity will also be ensured.
The state government in the State is delivering digital services to the people through e-Mitra, Jan Aadhaar Yojana, Jan Kalyan portal, Jansuchna portal and various mobile phone apps.
There are at present three J-root servers in New Delhi, Mumbai and Gorakhpur and two L-root servers in Mumbai and Kolkata.
The L-root server in Rajasthan is the first one deployed at the State level.
7. Cabinet approves continuation of RGSA from 1st April 2022 to 31st March 2026
Tags: National Government Schemes
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs 13 April 2022 has approved continuation of revamped Centrally Sponsored Scheme of Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan (RGSA) for implementation during the period from 01.04.2022 to 31.03.2026 (co-terminus with XV Finance Commission period) to develop governance capabilities of Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs).
The total financial outlay of the scheme is Rs.5911 crore with the Central Share of Rs.3700 crore and that of State Share of Rs.2211 crore.
Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan (RGSA):
Gram Swaraj Abhiyan was launched on 1st April, 2018. Targets villages where Dalit and tribal people are predominant.
Its goal is to increase social harmony, promote awareness about government programs being run for the poor and make them aware of these schemes. It contains the following provisions:
The extension of this scheme is to all the states and union territories of the country.
Both the central and state components have been included in the scheme.
The share of the Center and the State in the State Governments will be in the ratio of 60:40 respectively.
The Centre-State funding ratio will be 90:10 in the North Eastern and Hill States. The central share will be 10 per cent for all union territories.
8. Uttar Pradesh adjudged the best state in the 3rd National Water Awards
Tags: Awards
President Ram Nath Kovind felicitated the winners of the 3rd National Water Awards in New Delhi.
57 awards were presented annually to States, Organizations, and Individuals in 11 different categories.
During the event, President also launched the “Jal Shakti Abhiyan: Catch the Rain campaign 2022” which will continue to be implemented this year till 30th of November.
The National Water Award was launched by the Jal Shakti Ministry in 2018
National Water Awards are constituted to recognise and motivate individuals and organizations doing exemplary work in the field of water resources management in attaining the government’s vision of a ‘Jal Samridh Bharat’.
List of Winners-
Best State - Uttar Pradesh, followed by Rajasthan and Tami Nadu.
Best District
North Zone - Muzaffarnagar, Uttar Pradesh
South Zone - Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala
West Zone - Indore, Madhya Pradesh
Eastern Zone - East Champaran, Bihar
North East Zone - Goalpara, Assam
About Jal Shakti Abhiyan: Catch the Rain 2022
In 2022, some new features have been added-
Spring shed development
Protection of water catchment areas
Gender mainstreaming in the water sector. (Gender mainstreaming will promote the role of women in water governance/conservation & management.)
State Governments will set up Jal Shakti Kendras in each district which will offer a one-stop solution to all water-related problems/ issues and draw district water conservation plan.
All the Sarpanchs will administer the Jal Shapath to the people in the village
Local Community people will act as “water warriors” by actively participating in water conservation work.
District Magistrate and Gram Sarpanchs will play the role of “Marg Darshak” for motivating every individual toward water conservation to ensure that the desire of “Jan Shakti for Jal Shakti” is fulfilled.
9. NITI Aayog and FAO launches a Book : Indian Agriculture towards 2030
Tags: National News
Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Shri Narendra Singh Tomar released a book titled “Indian Agriculture towards 2030: Pathways for Enhancing Farmers’ Income, Nutritional Security and Sustainable Food and Farm Systems”.
The book is published by Springer
The book captures the outcomes of a national dialogue by NITI Aayog and the Ministries of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare; on Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, which was facilitated by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations.
Indian Agriculture towards 2030 covers the following themes:
Transforming Indian Agriculture
Structural Reforms and Governance
Dietary Diversity, Nutrition and Food Safety
Managing Climate Risks in Agriculture
Science, Technology and Innovation
Symbiosis of Water and Agricultural Transformation in India
Pests, Pandemics, Preparedness and Biosecurity
Transformative Agroecology-Based Alternatives for a Sustainable and Biodiverse Future
The book includes a Foreword by the Hon’ble Vice President of India Shri M. Venkaiah Naidu.
10. Shri Rajeev Chandrasekhar inaugurates Tech Conclave 2022
Union Minister of State for Electronics & Information Technology, Shri Rajeev Chandrashekhar inaugurated the 3rd edition of ‘NIC Tech Conclave 2022’,at New Delhi on 3 March 2022.
The tech conclave is being organized by the National Informatics Centre(NIC) on 3rd and 4th March 2022 with focus on emerging technologies applicable especially in e-Governance.
The Theme for Tech Conclave this year is “Next Gen Technologies for Digital Government”.
